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RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION 


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ASSOCIATION 


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ORGANIZED  AT  CHICAGO 

BY  THE  CONVENTION  FOR  RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION 

FEBRUARY  12,  1903 


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EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

The  Religious  Education  Association 

CHICAGO 


IRA  LANDRITH,  LL.D. 

The  Newly  Elected  General  Secretary  of  the  Religious  Education  Association. 


THE 

RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION 

ASSOCIATION 


ORGANIZED  AT  CHICAGO 

BY  THE  CONVENTION  FOR  RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION 

FEBRUARY  12,  1903 


EXECUTIVE  OFFICE 

The  Religious  Education  Association 

CHICAGO 


EXECUTIVE  OFFICERS. 


President. 

Professor  Frank  Knight  Sanders,  Ph.D.,  D.D., 

Dean  Yale  Divinity  School,  New  Haven,  Conn. 


First  Vice-President. 

President  Nicholas  Murray  Butler,  Ph.D.,  LL.D., 

Columbia  University,  New  York  city. 


Chairman  of  Executive  Board. 

President  William  Rainey  Harper,  Ph.D.,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

The  University  of  Chicago,  Chicago. 


General  Secretary. 


Editorial  Secretary. 


Recording  Secretary. 

Professor  George  Albert  Coe,  Ph.D., 

Northwestern  University,  Evanston,  Ill. 

Einancial  Secretary, 


Treasurer. 

Mr.  James  Herron  Eckels, 

President  Commercial  National  Bank,  Chicago. 


2 


THE  RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION  ASSOCIATION. 


The  Convention  for  Religious  and  Moral  Education,  held  in 
Chicago  on  February  10  -12  last,  was  in  every  way  a  gratify- 
The  Chicago  success  —  in  attendance,  in  program,  in  spirit. 

Convention  and  in  accomplishment.  The  completed  register 
IN  February  Convention  showed  407  members  present,  of 

which  only  a  small  proportion  were  from  Chicago.  New  England 
was  largely  represented,  and  all  eastern,  middle,  and  middle  west¬ 
ern  states,  with  not  a  few  members  from  the  South.  In  all  some 
twenty-three  states  were  represented,  and  there  were  a  number  of 
members  also  from  Toronto  and  Montreal.  In  this  assembly  of 
American  religious  leaders  there  were  about  forty  presidents  of 
universities,  colleges,  and  normal  schools,  many  deans  and  pro¬ 
fessors  of  theological  seminaries,  eminent  Sunday-school,  Young 
People’s  Societies,  and  Y.  M.  C.  A.  workers,  many  religious 
editors,  pastors  of  all  denominations,  principals  and  teachers  in 
day  schools,  officers  of  boys’  clubs,  and  representatives  of  other 
kinds  of  religious  and  moral  instruction. 

The  main  purpose  of  the  Convention  was  to  survey  the  work 
proposed,  and  to  create  an  adequate  organization  for  its  accom¬ 
plishment.  The  addresses  were  many,  and  of  solid  character; 
sensational  elements  were  excluded ;  the  aim  of  the  speakers 
was  to  reach  agreement  on  fundamental  ideas,  and  to  lead  the 
way  to  a  union  of  progressive  leaders  for  the  improvement  of 
religious  and  moral  education.  The  mighty  power,  the  har¬ 
mony,  and  the  profound  religious  sentiment  of  the  meeting  were 
due  to  this  character  of  the  program  ;  from  the  first  address  on 
Tuesday  evening  to  the  last  address  on  Thursday  afternoon  the 
main  idea  and  purpose  of  the  Convention  grew  in  the  minds 
and  hearts  of  the  members,  so  that  when  the  constitution  for 
the  new  organization  was  presented,  and  the  resolution  as  to  the 
purpose,  scope,  and  method  of  the  organization,  they  found 
unanimous  adoption. 


3 


4 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION  ASSOCIATION 


Although  the  program  was  not  arranged  for  attracting  large 
audiences,  nor  for  securing  the  attention  of  the  daily  press,  the 
popular  interest  was  very  great.  More  than  three  thousand 
people  attended  the  first  meeting,  held  in  the  Auditorium,  and 
the  remaining  five  sessions  were  attended  by  as  many  people  as 
could  be  seated  in  two  of  Chicago’s  largest  churches. 

The  General  Committee  which  had  made  arrangements  for 
the  Convention  presented  its  report  on  Wednesday  morning 

The  Officers  Professor  George  L.  Robinson,  the  chair- 

AND  Program  man,  and  upon  its  recommendation  the  following 
OF  THE  officers  of  the  Convention  were  unanimously  elected  : 

Convention  President — Professor  Frank  K.  Sanders,  Ph.D.,D.D., 

Dean  of  the  Yale  Divinity  School,  New  Haven,  Conn.  Vice- 
Presidents — President  James  B.  Angell,  LL.D.,  the  University  of 
Michigan,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.;  Chancellor  J.  H.  Kirkland,  Ph.D., 
Vanderbilt  University,  Nashville,  Tenn.;  Mr.  Fred.  B.  Smith, 
Secretary  International  Committee  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  New  York  city; 
Rev.  George  R.  Merrill,  D.D.,  Supt.  Congregational  Home 
Missionary  Society,  Minneapolis,  Minn.;  Rev.  Geo.  E.  Horr, 
D.D.,  Editor  of  the  Watch?na7i^  Boston,  Mass.;  Rev.  Pascal  nar¬ 
rower,  Rector  Church  of  the  Ascension,  West  New  Brighton, 
N.  Y.  Secretaries — Mr.  M.  C.  Hazard,  Ph.D.,  Editor  Congrega¬ 
tional  Sunday-School  Publications,  Boston,  Mass.;  Rev.  W.  C. 
Bitting,  D.D.,  Pastor  Mount  Morris  Baptist  Church,  New  York 
city.  It  was  frequently  said  by  members  of  experience  in  nation¬ 
al  assemblies  that  the  Convention  was  perfectly  conducted 
throughout  the  six  sessions  ;  the  promptness,  smoothness,  and 
success  of  the  meeting  were  due  largely  to  the  efficiency  of  the 
Convention  officers. 

The  program,  as  carried  out  at  the  convention,  is  printed 
below  (pp.  12-17).  There  was  much  reason  for  congratulation 
that  few  changes  were  required  in  the  program  as  announced  two 
weeks  in  advance,  which  included  the  names  of  more  than  forty 
speakers  of  eminence  in  religious  education  from  Massachusetts 
to  California.  The  addresses  and  proceedings  of  the  Convention 
are  to  be  published  in  full  about  April  i,  so  that  all  who  desire 
can  read  them. 


THE  CHICAGO  CONVENTION 


5 


Constitution 
AND  Officers 

OF  THE 

Associa  tion 
Enrolment 


Four  committees  were  appointed  by  the  Convention,  to  report 
upon  enrolment,  permanent  organization,  nominations,  and  reso¬ 
lutions.  These  reports  were  rendered  at  the  ses¬ 
sions  of  Thursday  morning  and  afternoon,  and  in 
each  case  were  promptly  and  unanimously  adopted. 
The  substance  of  the  report  of  the  Committee  on 
has  been  indicated  above.  The  report  of  the  Com¬ 
mittee  on  Permanent  Organization  is  the  constitution  of  the 
Religious  Education  Association  to  be  found  below  (pp.  18-23), 
together  with  the  personnel  of  the  committee.  The  report  of 
the  Committee  on  Nominations  is  printed  below  (pp.  24-27) ,  with 
the  names  of  the  Committee.  The  report  of  the  Committee  on 
Resolutions^  need  not  be  given  here,  except  the  resolution  relat¬ 
ing  to  the  purpose,  scope,  and  method  of  the  new  organization, 
which  reads  : 


The  Convention  for  Religious  and  Moral  Education,  meeting  in 
Chicago  on  February  10,  ii,  and  12,  1903,  hereby  expresses  the  convic¬ 
tion  that  a  forward  movement  is  necessary  in  religious  and  moral 
education.  Inasmuch  as  an  important  service  can  be  rendered  by 
co-operation  of  workers  for  the  studying  of  problems,  for  furnishing 
information,  for  mutual  encouragement,  and  for  the  promotion  of 
higher  ideals  and  better  methods,  a  new  organization  for  the  United 
States  and  Canada  has  seemed  desirable.  The  organization  should  be 
comprehensive  and  flexible.  This  will  exclude  advocacy  of  the  dis- 

^  The  Committee  on  Enrolment  was  as  follows:  Professor  Charles  M.  Stuart, 
S.T.D,,  Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  Evanston,  Ill.,  Chairman;  Mr.  Augustus  L.  Abbott, 
St.  Louis,  Mo,;  Mr.  Nolan  R.  Best,  editor  of  the  Interior,  Chicago;  Mr.  E,  A.  Fox, 
General  Secretary  Kentucky  State  Sunday-School  Association,  Louisville,  Ky. 

*  The  Committee  on  Resolutions  was  as  follows  :  President  George  B.  Stewart 
D.D.,  LL.D.,  Auburn  Theological  Seminary,  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  Chairman ;  Professor 
Morgan  Barnes,  Westminster  College,  New  Wilmington,  Pa.;  Rev.  C.  R.  Blackall, 

D. D.,  Editor  Periodicals  American  Baptist  Publication  Society,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Rev. 

Erastus  Blakeslee,  Editor  Bible  Study  Union  Lessons,  Boston,  Mass.;  Rev.  Nehemiah 
Boynton,  D.D.,  Pastor  First  Congregational  Church,  Detroit,  Mich.;  Professor  George 
A.  Coe,  Ph.D.,  Northwestern  University,  Evanston,  Ill.;  Mr.  J.  Spencer  Dickerson, 
Editor  the  Chicago ;  Rev.  R.  Douglas  Fraser,  Editor  Presbyterian  S.  S. 

Publications,  Toronto,  Can.;  Rev.  J.  H.  Garrison,  Editor  the  Christian  Evangelist,  St. 
Louis,  Mo.;  President  R.  D.  Harlan,  D.D.,  Lake  Forest  College,  Lake  Forest,  Ill.; 
Rev.  Simeon  Gilbert,  D.D.,  Chicago  ;  Supt.  W.  H.  Hatch,  Public  Schools,  Oak  Park, 
Ill.;  Professor  D.  A.  Hayes,  S.T.D.,  Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  Evanston,  Ill.;  Principal 

E.  Munson  Hill,  D.D.,  Congregational  College  of  Canada,  Montreal,  Can.;  President 
Richard  C,  Hughes,  Ripon  College,  Wis.;  President  Emory  Hunt,  Denison  University, 
Granville,  O.;  Rev.  W.  Ph  McMillen,  D.D.,  Dist.  Missionary  Congregational  S.  S.  and 
Publ.  Society,  Chicago,  Rev.  Spenser  B.  Meeser,  D.D.,  Pastor  Woodward  Avenue 
Baptist  Church,  Detroit,  Mich.;  Mr.  L.  Wilbur  Messer,  General  Secretary,  Chicago  Y. 
M.  C.  A.,  Chicago  ;  Professor  George  W.  Pease,  Bible  Normal  College,  Hartford,  Conn.; 
Professor  C.  W.  Votaw,  the  University  of  Chicago,  Chicago. 


6 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION  ASSOCIATION 


tinctive  views  of  any  denomination  or  school  of  opinion  ;  it  will  forbid 
the  limitation  of  the  work  to  any  single  phase  of  religious  and  moral 
education,  as,  for  example,  the  Sunday  school ;  it  will  prevent  the  con¬ 
trol  of  the  organization  by  any  section  of  the  country,  by  those  inter¬ 
ested  in  any  single  division  of  the  work,  or  by  those  representing  any 
one  school  of  thought.  It  is  not  the  purpose  to  publish  a  series  of 
Sunday-school  lessons  or  to  compete  with  existing  Sunday  schools  or 
other  organizations ;  but  rather  to  advance  religious  and  moral  educa¬ 
tion  through  such  agencies. 

In  the  adoption  of  these  reports  the  work  of  the  Convention 
culminated,  and  the  highest  anticipations  of  all  interested  per¬ 
sons  were  fully  realized.  The  consciousness  of  having  achieved 
the  organization  of  a  most  important  national  movement  was 
present  to  all,  and  the  memories  of  that  occasion  will  remain  with 
many  persons  as  the  greatest  public  experience  of  their  lives. 
The  Religious  Education  Association  enters  upon  its  career  with 
the  greatest  hope  and  promise.  The  public  interest  and  confi¬ 
dence  in  the  organization  are  already  great,  as  may  be  seen  in 
the  quotations  from  the  religious  press  given  below  (pp.  28-40); 
and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  this  public  interest  and  confidence  will 
increase.  The  work  of  the  Association,  because  of  its  breadth 
and  difficulty,  will  take  shape  somewhat  slowly  ;  but  its  character 
will  be  fundamental,  and  its  influence  will  become  greater  year 
after  year. 


According  to  the  constitution  of  the  Association,  all  persons 
who  are  actively  engaged  in  religious  or  moral  education  in 
Membership  whatever  way  are  eligible  to  active  membership  in 
IN  THE  the  Association  (upon  election  by  the  Board  of 

Association  Directors),  and  are  invited  to  become  members; 
also  all  other  persons  who,  although  not  engaged  directly  in 
such  educational  work,  are  interested  in  this  work,  and  desire  to 
co-operate  with  and  to  promote  it,  are  eligible  to  associate  mem¬ 
bership  in  the  Association  (upon  election  by  the  Board  of  Direc¬ 
tors)  and  are  cordially  invited  to  become  members.  Both  active 
and  associate  members  pay  an  enrolment  fee  of  One  Dollar,  and 
annual  dues  of  Two  Dollars  each.  It  is  desirable  that  the  origi¬ 
nal  list  of  members  to  be  published  in  the  volume  of  Proceedings 
should  be  as  complete  as  possible,  and  therefore  all  persons  who 


PURPOSE  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION 


7 


desire  membership  are  invited  to  send  in  their  names  with  the 
enrolment  fee  before  March  25  to  the  Acting  Secretary  of  the 
Association,  Professor  C.  W.  Votaw,  the  University  of  Chicago, 
Chicago.  Money  orders  and  checks  should  be  made  payable  to 
the  Treasurer,  Mr.  James  H.  Eckels.  A  copy  of  the  Proceed¬ 
ings  will  be  sent  free  to  each  member  of  the  Association  (addi¬ 
tional  copies  will  be  obtainable  at  a  reasonable  price). 


The  desirability  of  the  new  organization  depends  upon  the 
scope  and  purpose  conceived  of  in  connection  with  the  inaugu- 
ScoPE  AND  ration  of  it,  since  no  new  organization  is  needed 
Purpose  of  merely  to  antagonize  and  disturb  organizations 
THE  Association  in  the  field,  or  to  duplicate  the  work  of 

such  organizations.  The  Association  will  undertake  to  render 
service  in  three  ways  :  (  i)  In  unifying efforts  of  the  different 

agencies  already  engaged  in  various  lines  of  work  ;  in  correlating 
the  forces  already  established,  to  the  end  that  these  agencies 
may  accomplish  even  larger  results.  The  acceptance  of  such 
service  will  of  course  be  wholly  voluntary,  and  will  in  no  case 
involve  giving  up  of  independent  position,  the  work  of  the  new 
organization  being  something  like  that  of  a  clearing-house.  At 
present  there  is  great  waste  of  effort  for  the  lack  of  such  correla¬ 
tion.  (2)  In  stimulating agencies  to  greater  effort,  such 
aid  being  furnished  through  suggestion;  through  the  publication  of 
information  concerning  the  work  at  large ;  through  the  provision 
of  larger  and  better  opportunities  for  these  agencies  to  confer 
together ;  and  through  the  help  derived  from  the  personal  con¬ 
tact  with  each  other,  of  those  interested  in  the  same  divisions  of 
the  work.  (3)  In  creating  new  agencies  where  no  agencies  now 
exist,  and  for  special  lines  of  work  in  which  as  yet  no  united  effort 
has  been  exerted  ;  as  well  as  in  working  out  new  plans  which  may 
be  found  helpful  in  lines  of  work  already  established.  Here,  for 
example,  might  be  included  educational  work  for  the  people  at 
large  in  church  art  and  architecture  and  in  church  music  ;  effort 
from  a  new  point  of  view  in  relation  to  religious  and  moral  educa¬ 
tion  in  the  public  schools ;  the  proposal  of  new  plans  for  using 
to  advantage  the  many  libraries  established  in  our  villages  and 
cities,  or  the  suggestion  of  new  plans  for  improving  work  now 


8 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION  ASSOCIATION 


being  done  in  the  fields  of  the  Sunday  school,  Young  People’s 
Societies,  or  the  Christian  Associations.  It  is  evident  that  much 
is  still  to  be  done  in  every  field  of  religious  education  and  that 
as  yet  some  fields  have  scarcely  been  touched. 


The  Association  will  undertake  to  do  work  of  this  general 
character  in  various  ways  :  ( i )  Through  the  holding  of  an  annual 
Conventions  convention.  Such  a  convention  will  lead  men  to 
AND  formulate  and  pronounce  important  thought  upon 

Conferences  these  particular  subjects;  it  will  bring  into  sympa¬ 
thetic  touch  with  each  other  those  who  are  interested  in  these 
subjects  and  are  able  to  attend  the  meetings  ;  it  will  quicken  the 
life  and  interest  of  the  community  in  which  the  convention  is 
held  ;  and  it  will  furnish  literary  material  of  the  highest  value  for 
the  use  of  those  who,  although  unable  to  attend  the  convention 

itself,  desire  information  and  assistance  along  these  lines.  (2) 

* 

Through  the ‘instrumentality  of  departmental  organization,  in 
which  each  special  division  of  the  subject  of  religious  education 
will  form  a  separate  department.  Each  department  thus  consti¬ 
tuted  will  hold  special  conferences  and  conventions  intended  to 
further  an  intelligent  interest  in  the  subject;  while  the  represen¬ 
tatives  of  different  departments,  living  within  a  certain  district, 
whether  county  or  state  or  group  of  states,  will  join  in  combined 
effort  along  all  the  lines  thus  organized.  Such  departments 
would  be  those  of  Universities  and  Colleges,  Theological  Semi¬ 
naries,  Churches  and  Pastors,  Sunday  Schools,  Secondary  Public 
Schools,  Elementary  Public  Schools,  Private  Schools,  Teacher 
Training,  Christian  Associations,  Young  People’s  Societies,  the 
Home,  Libraries,  the  Press,  Correspondence  Instruction,  Religi¬ 
ous  Art  and  Music. 

The  new  organization  has  a  Board  of  Directors,  which  con¬ 
stitutes  the  executive  body  of  the  Association,  and,  as  such. 
Officers  of  arranges  the  programs  of  special  and  general  con¬ 
ventions,  secures  by  proper  means  the  co-ordination 
of  the  work  of  the  departments,  and  carries  into 
effect  the  decisions  of  the  Association  at  large  and  of  these  sev¬ 
eral  departments.  This  Board  of  Directors  will  be  made  up  of 


THE 

Association 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION 


9 


officers  and  members  elected  annually  in  open  convention.  Its 
members  will  represent  the  various  states,  territories,  districts, 
and  provinces  furnishing  the  membership  of  the  Association  ; 
also  the  various  religious  denominations  and  the  various  schools 
of  opinions  recognized  as  Christian  ;  and,  still  further,  the  various 
divisions  of  Christian  activity,  educational,  evangelistic,  and 
philanthropic. 

There  is  provided  also  an  Executive  Board,  made  up  from  the 
membership  of  the  Board  of  Directors  —  a  smaller  body,  which 
will  act  as  the  legal  corporation  of  the  Association,  secure  and 
invest  the  funds  of  the  Association,  and  represent  the  Directors 
in  the  interval  of  their  meetings. 

There  will  be  secretaries  appointed  for  particular  service, 
e.  g.,  a  General  Secretary,  whose  entire  time  will  be  devoted  to 
the  interests  of  the  Association  ;  an  Editorial  Secretary,  to  whose 
care  will  be  committed  the  charge  of  all  printed  publications  of 
the  Association  ;  a  Recording  Secretary ,  to  keep  the  records  of  the 
Boards  and  of  the  Association  ;  and  a  Financial  Secretary^  who 
shall  be  charged  with  the  work  of  securing  the  means  needed  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  the  work  of  the  Association. 

The  Association,  through  its  boards  and  secretaries,  will 
secure  the  funds  to  be  used  for  defraying  the  ordinary  expenses 
hs  Modes  of  the  Association  ;  for  conducting  special  investi- 

OF  Work  gations  proposed  by  the  departments  ;  for  printing 

and  publishing  the  reports  and  the  literature  of  the  Association ; 
and  for  endowing  special  phases  of  the  work  which  will  always 
require  assistance. 

Through  its  boards  and  secretaries  the  Association  will  print 
and  publish  reports,  bulletins,  documents,  and  books,  including 
the  proceedings  of  the  annual  and  special  conventions,  the  reports 
of  committees  appointed  to  make  special  investigations,  and 
important  contributions  to  the  cause  of  religious  and  moral  edu- 
cation  which  the  Association  may  deem  it  desirable  to  issue.. 
Also,  effort  will  be  made  to  encourage  in  various  ways  indi¬ 
vidual  and  institutional  effort  in  the  direction  of  religious  and 
moral  education  This  will  include,  for  example,  assistance  in 
the  work  of  grading  Sunday  schools  ;  effort  to  secure  the  intro- 


10 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION  ASSOCIATION 


duction  of  courses  of  instruction  in  the  curricula  of  colleges  and 
universities ;  aid  in  the  training  of  teachers ;  preparation  of  lists 
of  books  on  the  different  subjects  of  religious  work  and  thought ; 
provision  of  special  material  for  the  use  of  the  daily  press ; 
organization  of  work  for  mothers’  clubs,  and  many  other  similar 
kinds  of' work. 

The  Association,  through  its  departments,  will  propose  to 
make  new  contributions  to  the  cause  of  religious  and  moral 
education.  Through  the  conduct  of  scientific  mves- 

INVESTIGAT/ONS,  .  .  .  , 

Experiments  tigations  some  of  them  will  attempt  to  define  more 
AND  closely  the  true  relation  of  religious  and  moral 

Constructive  instruction  to  other  branches  of  instruction  and  to 

Propositions  •  i  •  ^  \  i  ^  i  •  i  i  •  •  i  i  i  r 

indicate  the  part  which  religion  should  perform  m 

the  development  of  the  individual  and  of  society.  Others  will 

undertake  to  correlate  religious  and  moral  instruction  with  the 

instruction  in  literature,  history,  and  science  now  provided  in 

the  public  schools.  Others  will  seek  to  determine  the  place  of 

the  Bible  in  religious  and  moral  instruction  and  set  forth  the 

best  methods  of  using  the  Bible  for  this  purpose.  Still  others 

will  endeavor  to  point  out  the  application  of  the  established 

results  of  modern  psychology,  modern  pedagogy,  and  modern 

Bible  study,  as  these  stand  related  to  religious  and  moral 

instruction. 

Practical  experiments  will  also  be  carried  on,  some  of  which 
shall  have  to  do  with  the  adaptation  of  religious  and  moral 
instruction  to  different  stages  of  physical,  mental,  moral,  and 
spiritual  development ;  others  with  the  adjustment  of  the 
material  employed  for  purposes  of  religious  and  moral  instruc¬ 
tion  to  the  needs  of  the  special  sociological  groups  included  in 
Christian  Associations,  Young  People’s  Societies,  Bible  clubs, 
and  the  like ;  still  others,  with  the  working  out  of  an  approxi¬ 
mately  ideal  curriculum  for  the  Bible  school  —  a  curriculum 
which  will  embody  the  larger  substance  and  the  better  methods 
of  a  religious  and  moral  education  that  is  in  accordance  with 
the  present  status  of  biblical,  theological,  ethical,  psychological, 
pedagogical,  and  scientific  knowledge. 

From  time  to  time  constructive  propositions  will  be  presented. 


POINT  OF  VIEW  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION 


1 1 


which  shall  be  intended  to  serve  as  the  dasis  for  lesson-helps  and 
text-books  on  various  portions  of  such  curricula;  to  secure  the 
more  adequate  training  of  teachers  ;  and  to  place  the  work  of 
religious  and  moral  instruction  on  as  high  a  plane  as  that  on  which 
secular  educational  work  has  come  to  rest. 


The  Association  will  do  its  work  with  ^ke  scientific  spirit,  and 
will  consequently  proceed  carefully  and  cautiously  upon  the  basis 
The  Point  OF  fundamental  principles,  seeking  to  observe  accu- 
ViEW  OF  THE  rately  the  facts  and  from  these  to  make  deductions, 
Association  and  aiming  to  co-ordinate  and  systematize  the 
material  presented  for  consideration. 

It  will  be  controlled  also  by  the  universal  spirit,  and  this 
will  forbid  the  placing  of  emphasis  upon  the  distinctive  views 
of  any  one  denomination  or  school  of  opinion  to  the  exclusion 
of  others ;  for  it  may  be  confidently  asserted  that  those  who 
hold  different  theories  of  biblical  history  may  be  able  to  unite 
upon  a  constructive  teaching  of  the  Bible  from  a  practical 
religious  and  moral  point  of  view.  It  will,  likewise,  forbid  the 
limitation  of  the  work  to  any  single  phase  of  religious  instruc¬ 
tion,  inasmuch  as  the  time  has  now  come  for  the  existence  of  an 
organization  which  shall  not  aim  to  supersede  any  of  the  exist¬ 
ing  agencies  dealing  with  special  phases  of  religious  instruction, 
but  will  undertake  to  study  and  develop  the  subject  in  its  entirety; 
this  spirit  will  also  forbid  the  restriction  of  the  control  to  any 
one  section  of  the  country,  or  to  those  interested  in  any  one  divi¬ 
sion  of  the  work,  or  to  those  representing  any  one  school  of 
thought. 

And  above  all,  the  Association  will  cultivate  the  co-operative 
spirit,  thus  manifesting  clearly  its  purpose  to  assist  all  organi¬ 
zations  working  in  the  same  field ;  it  will  refuse  to  enter  into 
rivalry  with  institutions  or  associations  of  any  class;  and  it  will 
perform  that  general  service  which  will  promote  the  efficiency  of 
all  institutions. 


PROGRAM  OF  THE  CONVENTION, 


jBventng,  ifeDruar^  10,  8:00  o'ClocI?. 

THE  AUDITORIUM, 

Corner  Wabash  Avenue  and  Congress  Street. 

Organ  Recital  ---------  Dr.  Louis  Falk 

From  half  past  seven  till  eight  o’clock. 

President  James  B.  Angell,  LL.D.,  Presiding. 

introduced  by  Professor  Frank  K.  Sanders,  Ph.D.,  D.D.,  Yale  University 

President  of  the  Council  of  Seventy. 

DEVOTIONAL  SERVICE. 

Anthem  —  “Send  out  Thy  Light”  -------  Gounod 

Convention  chorus  of  two  hundred  voices;  Professor  W.  B.  Chamberlain,  Director; 

Dr.  Louis  Falk,  Organist. 

Scripture  Reading. 

Rev.  Charles  H.  Snedeker,  Dean  St.  Paul’s  Procathedral,  Cincinnati,  O. 
Prayer. 

Rev.  H.  P.  Deforest,  D.D.,  Pastor  Woodward  Avenue  Congregational 
Church,  Detroit,  Mich.  • 

Hymn — “I  Love  Thy  Kingdom,  Lord ”  -  -  -  Chorus  and  Congregation 

BUSINESS. 

Reading  of  the  Call  for  the  Convention. 

By  Professor  Clyde  W.  Votaw,  Ph.D.,  The  University  of  Chicago,  Recorder 
of  the  Council  of  Seventy. 

Chorus— “How  Lovely  are  the  Messengers ”  (From  St.  Paul)  -  -  Mendelssohn 

ADDRESSES. 

Subject:  «  the  next  step  forward  in  religious  educations 

President  James  B.  Angell,  LL.D.,  The  University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor, 
Mich. 

Rev.  Francis  E.  Clark,  D.D.,  President  of  the  United  Society  of  Christian 
Endeavor,  Boston,  Mass. 

Mr.  Walter  L.  Hervey,  Ph.D.,  Examiner  Board  of  Education,  New  York 
city. 

Rev.  William  C.  Bitting,  D.D.,  Pastor  Mount  Morris  Baptist  Church,  New 
York  city. 

President  J.  W.  Bashford,  Ph.D.,  Ohio  Wesleyan  University,  Delaware,  O. 
Hymn  —  “O  Word  of  God  Incarnate”  -  -  -  Chorus  and  Congregation 

Prayer  and  Benediction. 

Rev.  Lathan  A.  Crandall,  D.D.,  Pastor  Memorial  Baptist  Church,  Chicago. 


12 


PROGRAM  OF  THE  CONVENTION 


13 


MeDnesDais  /Iftornfng,  3febcuari5  11,  10:00  o'Clocft* 

THE  SECOND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 

Corner  Michigan  Avenue  and  Twentieth  Street. 

Organ  Prelude  —  “Berceuse”  Delbriick 

Miss  Emeline  P.  Farrar,  Chapel  Organist,  Chicago  Theological  Seminary. 

DEVOTIONAL  SERVICE. 

Hymn  —  “When  Morning  Gilds  the  Skies”  -  -  -  .  The  Congregation 

Scripture  Reading. 

Rev.  Everett  D.  Burr,  D.D.,  Pastor  First  Baptist  Church,  Newton  Centre, 
Mass. 

Prayer. 

Mr.  Fred  B.  Smith,  Secretary  International  Committee  Young  Men’s  Chris¬ 
tian  Associations,  New  York  city. 

Tenor  Solo  —  “Like  as  a  Hart  Desireth  the  Water  Brooks”  -  -  Allitsen 

Mr.  Lester  B.  Jones,  Director  of  Music,  The  University  of  Chicago. 

BUSINESS. 

1.  Report  of  the  General  Committee. 

2.  Election  of  Officers  for  the  Convention. 

3.  Appointment  of  Committees  on 

{a)  Enrolment.  (c)  Nominations. 

(b)  Permanent  Organization.  {d)  Resolutions. 

ADDRESSES. 

Subject  :  “  the  modern  conception  of  religious  educations 

1.  As  a  Part  of  General  Education. 

Professor  George  A.  Coe,  Ph.D.,  Northwestern  University,  Evanston,  Ill. 

Professor  Edwin  D.  Starbuck,  Ph.D.,  Leland  Stanford  Junior  University, 
Stanford,  Calif. 

2.  As  Conditioned  by  the  Principles  of  Modern  Psychology  and  Pedagogy. 

Professor  John  Dewey,  Ph.D.,  Director  School  of  Education,  The  Uni¬ 
versity  of  Chicago,  Chicago,  Ill. 

President  Henry  Churchill  King,  D.D.,  Oberlin  College,  Oberlin,  Ohio. 

3.  As  Affected  by  Modern  Historical  Study  of  the  Bible. 

President  Rush  Rhees,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  The  University  of  Rochester,  Roches¬ 
ter,  N.  Y. 

Professor  Herbert  L.  Willett,  Ph.D.,  The  University  of  Chicago,  Chi¬ 
cago,  Ill. 

DISCUSSION. 

Rev.  Philip  S.  Moxom,  D.D.,  Pastor  South  Congregational  Church,  Springfield, 
Mass. 

Professor  W.  Douglas  Mackenzie,  D.D.,  Chicago  Theological  Seminary,  Chi¬ 
cago,  Ill. 

Rev.  William  P.  Merrill,  Pastor  Sixth  Presbyterian  Church,  Chicago,  Ill. 

Three-Minute  Addresses  by  the  Members  of  the  Convention. 

Hymn  —  “The  Heavens  Declare  Thy  Glory,  Lord”  -  -  The  Congregation 

Prayer  and  Benediction. 

Rev.  S.  S.  Bates,  D.D.,  Pastor  College  St.  Baptist  Church,  Toronto,  Can. 
Organ  Postlude . Gounod 


Miss  Farrar. 


M 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCA  TION  ASSOC  I  A  TION 


TKIleDnesDa^  Btternoont  ^februar^  11,  2:30  o'Clocfe, 

THE  SECOND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 

Corner  Michigan  Avenue  and  Twentieth  Street, 

Organ  Prelude  —  “  In  Paradisum  Du  Bois 

Miss  Farrar. 

DEVOTIONAL  SERVICE. 

Hymn  —  “Watchman,  Tell  Us  of  the  Night”  '  :  ‘  The  Congregation 

Scripture  Reading. 

Rev.  Carlos  C.  Rowlison,  Pastor  Christian  Church,  Kenton,  O. 

Prayer. 

Rev.  William  B.  Forbush,  Ph.d.,  L.H.D.,  Pastor  Winthrop  Congregational 
Church,  Boston,  Mass. 

Soprano  Solo  —  “Our  King”  -  - . Rocoli 

Mrs.  Clarence  Pellett,  Oak  Park,  Ill. 

ADDRESSES. 

Subject:  ^^the  promotion’  of  religious  and  moral  educations 

1.  Through  the  Home, 

President  George  B.  Stewart,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Auburn  Theological  Semi¬ 
nary,  Auburn,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  Jean  F.  Loba,  D.D.,  Pastor  First  Congregational  Church,  Evanston,  Ill. 

2.  Through  the  Day  Schools. 

Mr.  Charles  H.  Thurber,  Ph.D.,  Editor  Educational  Publications  of  Ginn 
&  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 

Mr.  John  W.  Carr,  Superintendent  of  Schools,  Anderson,  Ind. 

3.  Through  the  Christian  Associations  and  Young  PeopEs  Societies. 

Rev.  W.  G.  Ballantine,  LL.D.,  Bible  Instructor,  International  Young  Men’s 
Christian  Association  Training  School,  Springfield,  Mass. 
Rev.Nehemiah  Boynton,  D.D.,  Pastor  First  Congregational  Church,  Detroit, 
Mich. 

DISCUSSION. 

Rev.  George  E.  Horr,  D.D.,  Editor  the  Watchman.,  Boston,  Mass. 

President  Rufus  H.  Halsey,  State  Normal  School,  Oshkosh,  Wis. 

Rev.  David  Beaton,  D.D.,  Pastor  Lincoln  Park  Congregational  Church,  Chicago,  Ill. 

Three-minute  Addresses  by  Members  of  the  Convention. 

Hymn  —  “We  are  Living,  We  are  Dwelling,  in  a  Grand  and  Awful  Time” 

The  Congregation 

Prayer  and  Benediction.  ’ 

Rev.  William  S.  Sigmund,  Secretary  Olive  Branch  Synod  Evangelical  Luth 
eran  Church,  Columbus,  Ind. 

Organ  Postlude  —  Marche  Triumphale  ------  Du  Bois 

Miss  Farrar. 


PROGRAM  OF  THE  CONVENTION 


15 


MeDne65ai2  ^Evening,  3februari2  11,  8:00  o'Clocft* 


Organ  Prelude 


THE  SECOND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH, 
Corner  Michigan  Avenue  and  Twentieth  Street. 
a.  Concert  Rondo  -  -  -  .  . 

d.  Meditation  ------ 


Mr.  a.  F.  McCarrell,  Organist  and  Choir  Director  Second  Presbyterian  Church. 


Hollins 

D'Evry 


DEVOTIONAL  SERVICE. 

Quartette  —  “  Lovely  Appear  ”  (from  the  Redemption)  -  -  Gounod 

Second  Presbyterian  Church  Choir. 

Mrs.  Lucile  Stephenson-Tewksbury,  Soprano.  Mr.  Henry  A.  Mix,  Tenor. 

Mrs.  Annie  Rommeiss-Thacker,  Contralto.  Mr.  J.  M.  Hubbard,  Bass. 

Scripture  Reading. 

Professor  I.  I.  D.  Hinds,  Ph.D.,  University  of  Nashville,  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Hymn — “I  Love  to  Tell  the  Story”  .  -  .  .  Choir  and  Congregation 

Prayer. 

Rev.  a.  Edwin  Keigwin,  Pastor  Park  Presbyterian  Church,  Newark,  N.  I. 
Quartette  —  “Holy  Night” . Chwaial 

The  Choir. 


ADDRESSES. 


Subject:  ‘^religious  education  through  the  Sunday  schools 

I.  As  Regards  Organization  for  the  Purpose  of  Instruction. 

Rev.  C.  R.  Blackall,  D.D.,  Editor  of  Periodicals,  American  Baptist  Publica¬ 
tion  Society,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


2.  As  Regards  the  Curriculum  of  Study. 

Professor  Shailer  Mathews,  D.D.,  The  University  of  Chicago,  Chicago,  Ill. 


3.  As  Regards  Lesson-Helps  and  Text-Books. 

Professor  Frank  K.  Sanders,  Ph.D.,  D.D.,  Yale  University,  New  Haven, 
Conn. 

4.  As  Regards  the  Teaching  Staff. 

Rev.  Pascal  Harrower,  M.  A.,  Church  of  the  Ascension,  West  New  Brighton, 


N.  Y. 


DISCUSSION. 


Rev.  Rufus  W,  Miller,  Editor  Sunday-School  Publications  Reformed  Church, 
Reading,  Pa. 

Rev.  W.  J.  Mutch,  Ph.D.,  Pastor  Howard  Avenue  Congregational  Church,  New 
Haven,  Conn. 

Rev.  Simeon  Gilbert,  D.D,,  Chicago,  Ill. 

-  Three-Minute  Addresses  by  Members  of  the  Convention. 

Hymn —  “  Forward,  be  Our  Watchword  ”  -  -  -  -  Choir  and  Congregation 

Prayer  and  Benediction. 

Rev.  Spenser  B.  Meeser,  D.D.,  Pastor  Woodward  Avenue  Baptist  Church, 
Detroit,  Mich. 

Organ  PoSTLUDE  —  Festival  March  .  -  -  .  -  .  Smart 

Mr.  McCarrell. 


i6 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION  ASSOCIATION 


/IRorning,  3fcbruars  12,  10:00  o'Clocft* 

THE  UNIVERSITY  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH, 

Corner  Madison  Avenue  and  Fifty-sixth  Street. 

Organ  Prelude  —  Largo . Handel 

Mr.  Joseph  Gillespie,  Organist  University  Congregational  Church. 

DEVOTIONAL  SERVICE. 

Hymn  —  “A  Glory  Gilds  the  Sacred  Page  ”  -  -  -  -  The  Congregation 

Scripture  Reading. 

Principal  E.  Munson  Hill,  D.D.,  Congregational  College,  Montreal,  Can. 
Prayer. 

Professor  Milton  S.  Terry,  D.D.,  Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  Evanston,  Ill. 

Soprano  Solo  —  “Lead  Kindly  Light ”  Protheroe 

Mrs.  Wm.  D.  Ferguson,  Chicago,  Ill. 

ADDRESS. 

Subject:  '^the  scope  and  purpose  of  the  new  organizations 

President  William  Rainey  Harper,  Ph.D.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  The  University 
of  Chicago,  Chicago,  Ill. 

DISCUSSION. 

Chancellor  J.  H.  Kirkland,  Ph.D.,  LL.D.,  Vanderbilt  University,  Nashville, 
Tenn. 

Rev.  Edward  A.  Horton,  D.D.,  President  Unitarian  Sunday-School  Association, 
Boston,  Mass. 

Rev.  Caspar  W.  Hiatt,  D.D.,  Pastor  Euclid  Avenue  Congregational  Church,  Cleve¬ 
land,  O. 

Professor  George  W.  Pease,  Bible  Normal  College,  Hartford,  Conn. 

Rev.  Albert  E.  Dunning,  D.D.,  Editor  the  Congregaiionalist,  Boston,  Mass. 

Three-Minute  Addresses  by  Members  of  the  Convention. 

BUSINESS. 

1.  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Enrolment. 

2.  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization. 

Hymn  —  “  Rise  Crowned  with  Light”  -----  The  Congregation 
Prayer  and  Benediction. 

Rev.  Cornelius  H.  Patton,  D.D.,  Pastor  First  Congregational  Church,  St. 
Louis,  Mo. 

Organ  Postlude  —  Toccata  from  Suite  Gothique  -----  Boellmann 

Mr.  Gillespie. 


PROGRAM  OF  THE  CONVENTION 


17 


ZTbureDais  Bfternoon,  3februari2  12,  2:30  o'Clocft* 

THE  UNIVERSITY  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH, 

Comer  Madison  Avenue  and  Fifty-sixth  Street. 

Organ  Prelude — “Pilgrim  Chorus  ”  -------  Wagner 

Mr.  Gillespie. 

DEVOTIONAL  SERVICE. 

Hymn  —  “The  Church’s  One  Foundation ”  -  -  -  .  The  Congregation 

Scripture  Reading. 

Professor  Waldo  S.  Pratt,  Mus.D.,  Hartford  Theological  Seminary,  Hart¬ 
ford,  Conn. 

Prayer. 

Rev.  Erastus  Blakeslee,  Editor  Bible  Study  Union  Lessons,  Boston,  Mass. 

Tenor  Solo — “Fear  Ye  Not,  O  Israel”  -----  Dudley  Buck 

Mr.  Charles  Knorr,  Chicago,  III. 

ADDRESS. 

Subject:  ^^the  relation'  of  the  new  organization  to  existing 

ORGANIZA  TIONSN 

President  Frank  W.  Gunsaulus,  D.D.,  Armour  Institute,  and  Pastor  Cen¬ 
tral  Church,  Chicago,  Ill. 

DISCUSSION. 

Rev.  George  R.  Merrill,  D.D.,  Superintendent  Congregational  Home  Missionary 
Society,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 

President  Charles  J.  Little,  D.D.,  Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  Evanston,  Ill, 

Mr.  L.  Wilbur  Messer,  General  Secretary  Young  Men’s  Christian  Association, 
Chicago,  Ill. 

Rev.  W.  F.  McDowell,  Ph.D.,  S.T.D.,  Secretary  of  Education,  Methodist  Epis¬ 
copal  Church,  New  York  city. 

Professor  Richard  M.  Hodge,  D.D.,  Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York 
city. 

Three-Minute  Addresses  by  Members  of  the  Convention. 

BUSINESS. 

1.  Consideration  of  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organization. 

2.  Consideration  of  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Nominations. 

3.  Consideration  of  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions. 

Hymn  —  “  Onward  Christian  Soldiers” . The  Congregation 

Prayer  and  Benediction. 

Rev.  Frederic  E.  Dewhurst,  Pastor  University  Congregational  Church, 
Chicago,  Ill. 

Organ  Postlude  —  “Ring  Out,  Ye  Crystal  Spheres” 

Mr.  Gillespie. 


Lucas 


THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION.^ 


ARTICLE  I  — NAME. 

This  Association  shall  be  entitled  “  The  Religious  Education 
Association.” 

ARTICLE  II  — PURPOSE. 

The  purpose  of  this  Association  shall  be  to  promote  religious  and 
moral  education. 


ARTICLE  III  — DEPARTMENTS. 

Section  i.  The  Association  shall  conduct  its  work  under  several 
departments,  as  follows:  (i)  The  Council;  (2)  Universities  and  Col¬ 
leges;  (3)  Theological  Seminaries;  (4)  Churches  and  Pastors;  (5) 
Sunday  Schools ;  (6)  Secondary  Public  Schools ;  (7)  Elementary 
Public  Schools;  (8)  Private  Schools;  (9)  Teacher  Training;  (10) 
Young  Men’s  and  Young  Women’s  Christian  Associations;  (ii) 
Young  People’s  Societies;  (12)  The  Home;  (13)  Libraries;  (14) 
The  Press;  (15)  Correspondence  Instruction;  (16)  Religious  Art  and 
Music. 

’'Adopted  by  the  Convention  on  recommendation  of  the  Committee  on  Permanent 
Organization,  which  was  composed  as  follows  :  President  Henry  Churchill  King,  D.D., 
Oberlin  College,  Oberlin,  O.,  Chairman;  President  J.  W.  Bashford,  Ph.D.,  Ohio  Wes¬ 
leyan  University,  Delaware,  O.;  Rev.  W.  C.  Bitting,  D.D.,  Pastor  Mount  Morris 
Baptist  Church,  New  York  city;  Rev.  L.  A.  Crandall,  D.D.,  Pastor  Memorial  Baptist 
Church,  Chicago ;  Rev.  A.  E.  Dunning,  D.D.,  Editor  the  Congregaiionalist,  Boston, 
Mass.;  Rev.  Jesse  J.  Haley,  Pastor  Christian  Church,  Cynthiana,  Ky.;  President 
William  R.  Harper,  Ph.D.,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  the  University  of  Chicago,  Chicago ;  Rev. 
Pascal  narrower,  Rector  Church  of  the  Ascension,  West  New  Brighton,  N.  Y.;  Mr. 
Walter  L.  Hervey,  Ph.D.,  Examiner  Board  of  Education,  New  York  city;  Professor 
J.  I.  D.  Hinds,  Ph.D.,  University  of  Nashville,  Nashville,  Tenn.;  Professor  Richard 
M.  Hodge,  D.D.,  Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York  city;  Rev.  Geo.  E.  Horr, 
D.D.,  Editor  the  Watchman^  Boston,  Mass.;  Rev.  A.  E.  Horton,  D.D.,  President 
Unitarian  Sunday-School  Association,  Boston,  Mass.;  Chancellor  J.  H.  Kirkland, 
Ph.D.,  LL.D.,  Vanderbilt  University,  Nashville,  Tenn.;  Rev.  R.  W.  Miller,  Editor 
Sunday-School  Publications  Reformed  Church,  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  Rev.  Philip  S. 
Moxom,  D.D.,  Pastor  South  Congregational  Church,  Springfield,  Mass.;  Rev.  Cor¬ 
nelius  H.  Patton,  D.D.,  Pastor  First  Congregational  Church,  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Professor 
George  L.  Robinson,  Ph.D.,  McCormick  Theological  Seminary,  Chicago ;  Mr.  Fred 
B.  Smith,  General  Secretary  International  Committee  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  New  York  city; 
Professor  Milton  S.  Terry,  D.D.,  LL.D,  Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  Evanston,  Ill.; 
Professor  Herbert  L.  Willett,  Ph.D.,  the  University  of  Chicago. 

18 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION 


19 

Sec.  2.  Other  departments  may  be  organized  on  the  approval  of 
the  Executive  Board  hereinafter  provided. 

Sec.  3.  Members  may  belong  to  such  department  or  departments 
as  they  may  select,  except  in  the  case  of  the  Council  as  provided  for 
in  Sec.  4. 

Sec.  4.  The  Council  of  Religious  Education  shall  consist  of  sixty 
members,  who  shall  be  active  members  of  the  Association.  The  origi¬ 
nal  membership  shall  be  selected  by  the  Executive  Board  of  the 
Association,  ten  for  one  year,  ten  for  two  years,  ten  for  three  years, 
ten  for  four  years,  ten  for  five  years,  ten  for  six  years. 

Vacancies  in  the  Council  shall  be  filled,  in  alternation,  one-half  by 
the  Council  itself,  the  other  half  by  the  Board  of  Directors  hereinafter 
provided.  The  absence  of  a  member  from  two  consecutive  annual 
meetings  of  the  Council  shall  be  equivalent  to  resignation  of  member¬ 
ship,  and  a  new  member  shall  be  elected  for  the  unexpired  term. 

There  shall  be  a  regular  annual  meeting  of  the  Council,  in  connec¬ 
tion  with  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Association.  The  regular  election 
of  members  of  the  Council  shall  take  place  at  this  meeting.  If  the 
Board  of  Directors  shall  for  any  reason  fail  to  elect  its  quota  of  mem¬ 
bers  annually,  such  vacancy  or  vacancies  shall  be  filled  by  the  Council 
itself. 

The  Council  shall  elect  its  own  officers  and  adopt  its  own  by-laws, 
provided  that  these  shall  not  be  inconsistent  with  the  constitution  of 
the  Association. 

The  Council  shall  have  for  its  object  to  teach  and  to  disseminate 
correct  thinking  on  all  general  subjects  relating  to  religious  and  moral 
education.  Also,  in  co-operation  with  the  other  departments  of  the 
Association,  it  shall  initiate,  conduct,  and  guide  the  thorough  investi¬ 
gation  and  consideration  of  important  educational  questions  within 
the  scope  of  the  Association.  On  the  basis  of  its  investigations  and 
considerations  the  Council  shall  make  to  the  Association,  or  to  the 
Board  of  Directors,  such  recommendations  as  it  deems  expedient 
relating  to  the  work  of  the  Association. 

There  shall  be  appointed  annually  some  person  to  submit,  at  the 
next  annual  meeting,  a  report  on  the  progress  of  religious  and  moral 
education  during  the  year ;  this  person  need  not  be  selected  from  the 
members  of  the  Council. 

ARTICLE  IV  — MEMBERSHIP. 

Section  i.  There  shall  be  three  classes  of  members:  Active 
(individual  and  institutional).  Associate,  and  Corresponding. 


20 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION  ASSOCIATION 


Sec.  2,  Active  Members  shall  be  (i)  teachers,  pastors,  and  any 
persons  otherwise  engaged  in  the  work  of  religious  and  moral  educa¬ 
tion  as  represented  by  the  sixteen  departments  named  in  Art.  Ill ; 
(2)  institutions  and  organizations  thus  engaged. 

Sec.  3.  Associate  Members  shall  be  persons  who  are  not  directly 
engaged  in  the  work  of  religious  and  moral  education,  but  who  desire 
to  promote  such  work. 

Sec.  4.  The  Corresponding  Members  shall  be  persons  not  resi¬ 
dent  in  America  who  may  be  elected  to  such  membership  by  the 
Board  of  Directors.  The  number  of  Corresponding  Members  shall  at 
no  time  exceed  fifty. 

Sec.  5.  The  fees  of  membership  shall  be  as  follows  :  Active  and 
Associate  Members  shall  each  pay  an  enrolment  fee  of  One  Dollar, 
and  an  annual  fee  of  Two  Dollars.  Corresponding  Members  shall  pay 
no  fees.  The  annual  fee  shall  be  payable  on  or  before  the  holding  of 
the  annual  convention.  Active  Members  who  have  paid  into  the 
Association  the  amount  of  Fifty  Dollars  shall  be  designated  Life 
Members. 

Sec.  6.  Active  and  Associate  Members  may  withdraw  from  mem¬ 
bership  by  giving  written  notice  to  the  Secretary  before  April  i. 
Resumption  of  membership  will  be  possible  on  payment  of  the  enrol¬ 
ment  fee  and  the  annual  fee  for  the  current  year. 

Sec.  7.  All  members  of  the  Association  whose  fees  are  paid  shall 
receive  the  volume  of  Proceedings  of  the  Annual  Convention. 

Sec.  8.  All  members  of  the  Association  shall  be  elected  by  the 
Board  of  Directors. 

Sec.  9.  Active  Members  only,  whose  fees  are  paid,  shall  have  the 
right  to  vote  and  to  hold  office  in  the  Association  and  its  departments. 

ARTICLE  V— OFFICERS. 

Section  i.  The  officers  of  the  Association  shall  be  as  follows  : 
President,  sixteen  Vice-Presidents,  Secretary,  Treasurer,  a  Board  of 
Directors,  and  an  Executive  Board. 

Sec.  2.  The  President,  and  Vice-Presidents,  shall  be  chosen  by 
ballot  on  a  majority  vote  of  the  Association  at  its  annual  meeting, 
and  shall  hold  office  for  one  year,  or  until  their  successors  are  chosen. 

Sec.  3.  The  President  shall  preside  at  the  meetings  of  the  Asso¬ 
ciation,  and  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  and  shall  perform  the  duties 
usually  devolving  upon  a  presiding  officer.  In  his  absence  the  first 
Vice-President  in  order  who  is  present  shall  preside,  and  in  the  absence 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION 


21 


of  all  Vice-Presidents,  a  J>ro  te7npore  chairman  shall  be  appointed  on 
nomination,  the  Secretary  putting  the  question. 

Sec.  4.  The  Secretary  shall  be  elected  by  the  Executive  Board, 
which  shall  fix  the  compensation  and  the  term  of  office.  The  Secretary 
of  the  Association  shall  also  be  the  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Direc¬ 
tors  and  of  the  Executive  Board. 

The  Secretary  shall  keep  a  full  and  accurate  report  of  the  proceed¬ 
ings  of  the  general  meetings  of  the  Association,  and  of  all  meetings  of 
the  Board  of  Directors. 

Sec.  5.  The  Treasurer  shall  be  elected  by  the  Executive  Board. 
He  shall  receive,  and  hold,  invest,  or  expend,  under  the  direction  of  this 
Board,  all  money  paid  to  the  Association  ;  shall  keep  an  exact  account  of 
receipts  and  expenditures,  with  vouchers  for  the  latter ;  shall  render 
the  accounts  for  the  fiscal  year,  ending  July  i,  to  the  Executive  Board, 
and  when  these  are  approved  by  the  Executive  Board,  shall  report  the 
same  to  the  Board  of  Directors.  The  Treasurer  shall  give  such  bond 
for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties  as  may  be  required  by  the 
Executive  Board. 

Sec.  6.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  consist  of  one  member  from 
each  state,  territory,  district,  or  province,  having  a  membership  of 
twenty-five  or  more  in  the  Association,  together  with  twenty  members 
chosen  at  large,  to  be  elected  by  ballot  on  a  majority  vote  of  the 
Association  at  the  annual  Convention.  These  members  of  this  Board 
shall  serve  for  one  year,  or  until  their  successors  are  chosen.  In 
addition,  the  President,  First  Vice-President,  Secretary,  Treasurer, 
and  the  members  of  the  Executive  Board,  shall  be  members  of  the 
Board  of  Directors.  In  1903  one  member  shall  be  elected  by  the 
Association  for  each  state,  territory,  district,  or  province,  represented 
in  the  list  of  signers  to  the  Call  for  the  Convention. 

Each  President  of  the  Association  shall  at  the  close  of  his  term  of 
office  become  a  Director  for  life. 

The  Board  of  Directors  shall  have  power  to  fill  all  vacancies  in 
their  own  body  and  in  the  several  departments  of  the  Association  ; 
shall  have  in  charge  the  general  interests  of  the  Association,  excepting 
those  herein  intrusted  to  the  Executive  Board  ;  and  shall  make  all 
necessary  arrangements  for  the  meetings  of  the  Association. 

Sec.  7.  The  Executive  Board  shall  consist  of  twenty-one  members 
elected  by  the  Board  of  Directors,  to  hold  office  for  seven  years.  In 
1903  the  Executive  Board  shall  be  elected  by  the  Association,  and  at 
the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  the  term  of  service  of  each  member  shall 


22 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCA  TION  ASSOC  I  A  TION 


be  determined  by  lot,  three  for  one  year,  three  for  two  years,  three  for 
three  years,  three  for  four  years,  three  for  five  years,  three  for  six  years, 
and  three  for  seven  years.  The  President,  First  Vice-President,  Secre¬ 
tary,  and  Treasurer  shall  be  ex-officio  members  of  the  Executive 
Board.  This  Board  shall  elect  its  own  chairman. 

This  Board  shall  be  the  corporate  body  of  the  Association,  and  (i) 
shall  provide  for  the  safekeeping  and  expenditure  of  all  funds  accru¬ 
ing  to  the  Association  ;  (2)  shall  carry  into  effect  the  actions  of  the 
Association  and  of  the  various  departments  ;  (3)  shall  publish  the 
annual  report,  the  reports  of  departments  and  of  special  committees, 
and  such  other  material  as  shall  further  the  purpose  of  the  Associa¬ 
tion;  (4)  shall  exercise  the  functions  of  the  Board  of  Directors  during 
the  interval  of  its  meetings  ;  (5)  shall  fix  its  quorum  at  not  less  than 
seven  members. 

This  Board  shall  make  an  annual  report  of  its  work  during  the 
year  to  the  Board  of  Directors. 

This  Board,  with  the  approval  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  may 
appoint  from  time  to  time  such  special  secretaries  for  the  conduct  of 
its  work  as  shall  be  deemed  advisable.  These  secretaries  shall  be 
ex-officio  members  of  the  Executive  Board. 

Sec.  8.  Each  of  the  sixteen  departments  under  the  Association 
shall  be  organized  with  a  President  and  a  Recording  Secretary.  The 
President  shall  preside  at  the  meetings  of  the  department,  and  shall 
perform  the  other  duties  of  a  presiding  officer.  The  Recording  Sec¬ 
retary  shall  keep  a  record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  meetings  of  the 
department,  and  a  list  of  the  members  of  the  department.  The  Presi¬ 
dent,  Recording  Secretary,  and  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  seven 
members  of  the  department,  elected  by  ballot  on  a  majority  vote  of  the 
members  of  the  department,  shall  constitute  the  Executive  Committee 
for  the  department.  The  President,  Recording  Secretary,  and  the  other 
members  of  the  Executive  Committee  shall  be  elected  at  the  time  of  the 
annual  convention,  and  shall  hold  office  for  one  year,  or  until  their 
successors  are  chosen.  The  action  of  these  departments  shall  be 
recognized  as  the  official  action  of  the  Association  only  when  approved 
by  the  Board  of  Directors. 

In  the  year  1903  the  officers  of  each  department  shall  be  appointed 
by  the  Executive  Board. 

ARTICLE  VI  — MEETINGS. 

Section  i.  The  annual  meeting  of  the  Association  shall  be  held  at 
such  time  and  place  as  shall  be  determined  by  the  Board  of  Directors. 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION 


23 


Sec.  2.  Special  meetings  of  the  Association  may  be  called  by  the 
President  at  the  request  of  five  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

Sec.  3.  Any  department  of  the  Association  may  hold  a  special 
meeting  of  the  department  at  such  time  and  place  as  by  its  own  regu¬ 
lations  it  shall  appoint. 

Sec.  4.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  hold  its  regular  meetings  at 
the  place,  and  not  less  than  two  hours  before  the  time,  of  the  assembling 
of  the  Association.  Special  meetings  of  the  Board  may  be  held  at  such 
other  times  and  places  as  the  Board,  or  the  President,  shall  determine. 

Each  new  Board  shall  organize  at  the  session  of  its  election. 

ARTICLE  VII  — AMENDMENTS. 

This  Constitution  may  be  altered  or  amended  at  a  regular  meeting 
of  the  Association  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  members  present;  or 
by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  members  present,  provided  that  the  altera¬ 
tion  or  amendment  has  been  substantially  proposed  in  writing  at  a 
previous  meeting. 

ARTICLE  VIII  — BY-LAWS. 

By-laws,  not  inconsistent  with  this  Constitution,  which  have  been 
approved  by  the  Board  of  Directors,  may  be  adopted  at  any  regular 
meeting,  on  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  members  of  the  Association  present. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION.* 


President. 

Professor  Frank  Knight  Sanders,  Ph.D.,  D.D., 

Dean  Yale  Divinity  School,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Vice-Presidents. 

President  Nicholas  Murray  Butler,  Ph.D.,  LL.D., 

Columbia  University,  New  York  city. 

President  James  B.  Angell,  LL.D., 

University  of  Michigan,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 

Professor  W.  G.  Ballantine,  LL.D., 

International  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Training  School,  Springfield,  Mass. 

Rev.  Amory  H.  Bradford,  D.D., 

.  Pastor  First  Congregational  Church,  Montclair,  N.  J. 

Rev.  William  C.  Bitting,  D.D., 

Pastor  Mount  Morris  Baptist  Church,  New  York  city. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Carr, 

Superintendent  of  Schools,  Anderson,  Ind. 

Professor  Thomas  F.  Day,  D.D., 

San  Francisco  Theological  Seminary,  San  Anselmo,  Calif. 

Rev.  George  E.  Horr,  D.D., 

Editor  of  the  Watchman,  Boston,  Mass. 

Rev.  Jesse  L.  Hurlbut,  D.D., 

Pastor  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Morristown,  N.  J. 

^Elected  by  the  Convention  on  recommendation  of  the  Committee  on  Nomina- 
nations,  which  was  composed  as  follows :  President  Rush  Rhees,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
University  of  Rochester,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Chairman ;  Rev.  E.  S.  Ames,  Ph.D., 
Pastor  Hyde  Park  Christian  Church,  Chicago  ;  Professor  W.  G.  Ballantine,  LL.D.. 
International  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Training  School,  Springfield,  Mass.;  President  Clifford  W. 
Barnes,  Illinois  College,  Jacksonville,  Ill.;  Rev.  Everett  D.  Burr,  D.D.,  Pastor  First 
Baptist  Church,  Newton  Centre,  Mass.;  Mr.  Frank  H.  Burt,  State  Secretary  Y.  M.  C. 
A.  of  Missouri,  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  Principal  George  N.  Carman,  Lewis  Institute,  Chi¬ 
cago;  Mr.  David  C.  Cook,  Editor  Sunday  School  Publications,  Elgin,  Ill.;  Professor 
George  Cross,  Ph.D.,  McMaster  University,  Toronto,  Can.;  Professor  Thomas  Carter, 
Vanderbilt  University,  Nashville,  Tenn.;  Rev.  H.  P.  DeForest,  D.D.,  Woodward 
Avenue  Congregational  Church,  Detroit,  Mich.;  Professor  E.  D.  Starbuck,  Ph.D., 
Leland  Stanford  Junior  University,  Stanford,  Calif.;  Rev.  William  Ewing,  State  Supt. 
of  Congregational  S.  S.  and  Publ.  Society,  Lansing.  Mich.;  Professor  Shailer  Mathews, 
D.D.,  the  University  of  Chicago,  Chicago;  Professor  Thomas  Nicholson,  D.D.,  Cor¬ 
nell  College,  Mt.  Vernon,  la.;  Professor  Waldo  S.  Pratt,  Mus.  D.,  Hartford  Theological 
Seminary,  Hartford,  Conn.;  President  H.  H.  Thoren,  Western  Union  College,  Le 
Mars,  la.;  Mr.  Charles  H.  Thurber,  Ph.D.,  Editor  Educational  Publications  of  Ginn 
&  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. 


24 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION 


25 


President  William  DeWitt  Hyde,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

Bowdoin  College,  Brunswick,  Maine. 

President  Burris  A.  Jenkins, 

Kentucky  University,  Lexington,  Ky. 

President  Charles  J.  Little,  D.D., 

Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  Evanston,  Ill. 

Rev.  S.  J.  McPherson,  D.D., 

V  Head  Master  Lawrenceville  School,  Lawrenceville,  N.  J. 

Rev.  John  Moore, 

Pastor  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Dallas,  Tex. 

Professor  James  S.  Riggs,  D.D., 

Auburn  Theological  Seminary,  Auburn,  N.  Y. 

President  Mary  E.  Woolley,  Litt.D., 

Mount  Holyoke  College,  South  Hadley,  Mass. 


Chairman  of  the  Executive  BoardI 

President  William  Rainey  Harper,  Ph.D.,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

The  University  of  Chicago,  Chicago. 


General  Secretary. 


Editorial  Secretary. 

Recording  Secretary. 

Professor  George  Albert  Coe,  Ph.D. ,3 

Northwestern  University,  Evanston,  Ill. 

Financial  Secretary. 

Treasurer. 

Mr.  James  Herron  Eckels, 

President  Commercial  National  Bank,  Chicago. 

Board  of  Directors. 

Mr.  Herbert  B.  Ames, 

Montreal,  Canada. 

Mr.  Nolan  R.  Best, 

Editor  the  Interior,  Chicago. 

Rev.  Nehemiah  Boynton,  D.D., 

Pastor  First  Congregational  Church,  Detroit,  Mich. 

Professor  Edward  L.  Curtis,  Ph.D.,  D.D., 

Yale  Divinity  School,  New  Haven,  Conn, 

Rev.  Samuel  A.  Eliot,  D.D., 

President  Unitarian  Association,  Boston,  Mass. 
^Elected  by  the  Executive  Board,  at  Chicago,  on  February  21,  1903. 
3  Elected  by  the  Executive  Board,  at  Chicago,  on  February  27,  1903. 


26 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION  ASSOCIATION 


President  R.  D.  Harlan,  D.D., 

Lake  Forest  College,  Lake  Forest,  Ill. 

Rev.  Pascal  Harrower, 

Chairman  Sunday  School  Commission  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York, 
Rector  Church  of  the  Ascension,  West  New  Brighton,  New  York. 

Professor  J.  I.  D.  Hinds,  Ph.D., 

University  of  Nashville,  Nashville,  Tenn. 

President  Richard  Cecil  Hughes, 

Ripon  College,  Ripon,  Wis. 

Rev.  Charles  E.  Jefferson,  D.D., 

Pastor  Broadway  Tabernacle,  New  York  city. 

President  R.  J.  Kelly, 

Earlham  College,  Richmond,  Ind. 

Rev.  William  M.  Lawrence,  D.D., 

Pastor  Second  Baptist  Church,  Chicago. 

Rev.  William  F.  McDowell,  Ph.D., 

Secretary  of  Education,  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  New  York  city. 

Professor  John  E.  McFadye*n,  M.A., 

Knox  College,  Toronto,  Canada. 

Professor  Walter  Miller, 

,  Tulane  University,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Professor  Samuel  C.  Mitchell,  Ph.D., 

Richmond  College,  Richmond,  Va. 

Rev.  A.  B.  Philputt,  D.D., 

Pastor  Central  Christian  Church,  Indianapolis,  Ind*. 

President  Albert  Salisbury,  Ph.D., 

State  Normal  School,  Whitewater,  Wis. 

Rev.  Chas.  H.  Snedeker, 

Dean  St.  Paul’s  Procathedral,  Cincinnati,  O. 

Rev.  Floyd  W.  Tomkins,  D.D., 

Rector  Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

The  Board  of  Directors  consists  of  one  member  from  each  state, 
territory,  district,  or  province,  having  a  membership  of  twenty-five  or 
more  in  the  Association  (to  be  appointed  in  1903  by  the  Executive 
Board,  one  for  each  state,  territory,  district,  or  province  represented  in 
the  list  of  signers  to  the  call  for  the  Convention);  the  above-named 
twenty  Directors  chosen  at  large;  the  President,  First  Vice-President, 
Secretary,  and  Treasurer  of  the  Association;  and  the  members  of  the 
Executive  Board. 


Executive  Board. 

President  William  Lowe  Bryan,  Ph.D., 

Indiana  University,  Bloomington,  Ind. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  ASSOCIATION 


27 


Professor  George  A.  Coe,  Ph.D., 

Northwestern  University,  Evanston,  Ill. 

Rev.  Lathan  A.  Crandall,  D.D., 

Pastor  Memorial  Baptist  Church,  Chicago. 

Rev.  H.  P.  DeForest,  D.D., 

Pastor  Woodward  Avenue  Congregational  Church,  Detroit,  Mich 

Mr.  J.  Spencer  Dickerson, 

Editor  the  Standard,  Chicago. 

President  Frank  W.  Gunsaulus,  D.D., 

Armour  Institute,  and  Pastor  Central  Church,  Chicago. 

President  Charles  Cuthbert  Hall,  D.D., 

Union  Theological  Seminary,  New  York  city. 

President  William  R.  Harper,  Ph.D.,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

The  University  of  Chicago,  Chicago. 

Mr.  N.  W.  Harris, 

Chicago. 

Mr.  W.  L.  Hervey,  Ph.D., 

Examiner  Board  of  Education,  New  York  city. 

Mr.  Charles  S.  Holt, 

Chicago. 

Mr.  J.  L.  Houghteling, 

Chicago. 

Mr.  Charles  L.  Hutchinson, 

Chicago. 

President  Henry  Churchill  King,  D.D., 

Oberlin  College,  Oberlin,  O. 

Chancellor  James  H.  Kirkland,  Ph.D.,  LL.D., 

Vanderbilt  University,  Nashville,  Term. 

Professor  W.  Douglas  Mackenzie,  D.D., 

Chicago  Theological  Seminary,  Chicago. 

Rev.  William  P.  Merrill, 

Pastor  Sixth  Presbyterian  Church,  Chicago. 

Mr.  L.  Wilbur  Messer, 

General  Secretary  Chicago  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Chicago. 

Mr.  S.  J.  Moore, 

Toronto,  Canada. 

Professor  George  L.  Robinson,  Ph.D., 

McCormick  Theological  Seminary,  Chicago. 

Professor  Herbert  L.  Willett,  Ph.D., 

The  University  of  Chicago,  Chicago. 

The  Executive  Board  consists  of  the  twenty-one  members  above 
named,  and  also  of  the  President,  Fjrst  Vice-President,  Secretary,  and 
Treasurer,  of  the  Association  ;  in  addition  such  special  secretaries  as  the 
Executive  Board  may  appoint  are  members  ex  officio. 


COMMENDATIONS  OF  THE  PRESS. 


The  Outlook  (Non=denoininational),  New  York  city,  February  21. 

If  the  convictions  of  a  great  many  men  of  varying  standards  of  good 
judgment  are  not  wholly  wrong,  the  Convention  for  Religious  and  Moral 
Education,  held  in  Chicago  last  week,  is  to  be  accounted  an  altogether  unique 
occasion  and  a  force  to  be  reckoned  with  in  the  future.  In  the  number  and 
representative  character  of  its  attendance  it  surprised  not  only  all  who 
responded  to  the  call  for  it,  but  quite  as  much  those  who  worked  so  long  and 
hard  to  assure  its  success.  Not  less  than  three  thousand  people  faced  its 
chairman  as  he  opened  the  first  session  in  the  great  Auditorium,  and  each  of 
its  succeeding  business  sessions  averaged  an  attendance  of  fully  a  thousand. 
But  the  most  significant  fact  in  this  connection  was  the  disproportionately 
large  number  of  men  present  throughout.  For  it  is  surely  a  most  exceptional 
feature  in  any  general  religious  gathering  to  find  men  composing  from  75  to  80 
per  cent,  of  the  attendance,  morning,  afternoon,  and  evening  for  two  days.  The 
spiritual  tone  and  devotional  spirit  were  as  marked  in  platform  utterances  as 
in  the  earnest  prayer  and  fervent  song  which  opened  and  closed  each  session. 
This  religious  atmosphere,  together  with  the  profoundly  serious  earnestness 
and  fearlessly  free  fellowship  which  pervaded  the  whole  occasion,  made  it 
impossible  to  suspect  the  presence  or  possibility  of  any  factional  control, 
ulterior  motive,  or  polemic  purpose. 

A  truly  sanctified  common-sense  seemed  to  protect  the  convention  from 
having  issues  precipitately  forced  upon  it  which  it  could  not  settle,  and  the 
discussion  of  which  would  have  been,  not  only  divisive,  but  futile.  For 
instance,  the  question  of  what  to  do  with  the  results  of  the  higher  criticism  in 
popular  teaching  was  neither  forced  to  discussion  nor  timidly  evaded.  Some 
frankly  asserted  what  they  thought  such  results  to  be,  but  demanded  nothing 
more  than  the  right  of  way  for  the  historical  method  of  study.  Others  denied 
their  relevancy  to  the  spiritual  content  to  be  emphasized.  So  also  the  balance 
between  new  and  better  methods  of  teaching  and  the  old  reliance  upon  the 
pre-eminent  spiritual  value  of  the  teacher’s  personal  influence  was  firmly  and 
sanely  maintained  throughout,  as  something  to  be  gradually  adjusted  and 
developed,  to  the  advantage  of  each  term  of  the  equation.  In  the  background 
of  all  that  was  thought  and  said  there  loomed  the  overshadowing  fact  that,  of 
the  twenty-three  millions  of  our  population  between  five  and  eighteen  years 
of  age,  fourteen  millions  are  not  known  to  have  the  advantage  of  any  specific 
religious  instruction  except  that  received  at  home. 

The  election  of  Dean  Frank  K.  Sanders,  of  Yale  Divinity  School,  as  presi¬ 
dent  of  the  Association,  and  Nicholas  Murray  Butler,  of  Columbia  University, 

28 


COMMENDA  TJONS  OF  THE  PRESS 


29 


as  first  vice-president,  together  with  the  choice  of  widely  differing  but  very 
representative  men  to  the  other  offices  and  the  Council,  guarantees  the  catho¬ 
licity  and  effectiveness  of  this  timely  and  forceful  movement  in  American 
life  and  education. 

The  American  Weekly  (Non=denominationaI),  Chicago,  February  19. 

The  remarkable  gathering  which  took  place  in  Chicago  last  week  is  the 
loudest  expression  which  we  have  yet  heard  of  the  need  for  religious  edu¬ 
cation.  The  judgment  of  church  leaders,  in  all  sections  of  the  Protestant 
world,  has  been  directed  in  recent  years  with  a  growing  intensity  to  this 
question  ;  and  the  declarations  made  at  last  week’s  convention,  by  leaders  of 
education  and  Christian  evangelism,  reveal  the  power  with  which  the  problem 
at  last  presents  itself  to  the  church  and  the  country. 

And  the  problem  of  religious  education  is  only  really  faced  when  we  ask 
ourselves  whether  Christianity — which  is  the  absolute  and  final  religion — is 
being  adequately  and  intelligently  taught  to  the  whole  people,  by  the  church 
to  which  its  Lord  has  committed  this  duty. 

A  complete  religious  education  must  aim  at  securing  the  following  four 
methods  and  kinds  of  instruction  and  influence  : 

First,  the  Christian  religion  is  a  historical  religion.  Its  powers  first 
began  to  operate  in  relation  to  a  certain  people.  They  culminated  in  one 
person.  From  him  they  have  spread  out  over  the  history  of  nineteen  cen¬ 
turies.  This  is  all  described  in  the  Bible  and  in  manuals  of  church  history. 
The  former  is  incomparably  the  most  important  subject  of  teaching  and 
study.  In  recent  years,  as  we  are  continually  being  told,  the  Bible  has 
received  new  light  upon  every  one  of  its  pages,  and  it  is  possible  to  teach 
its  story  and  to  convey  its  lessons  in  the  method  and  spirit  of  modern  edu¬ 
cation.  Last  week’s  convention  made  it  very  clear  that,  if  religion  was  to 
hold  the  attention  of  the  young  and  the  respect  of  the  mature,  this  must  be 
done. 

Second,  religion  always  presents  itself  as  a  more  or  less  definite  system 
of  truths.  It  is  life  through  truth.  There  is  a  region  where  life  obtains  with¬ 
out  truth.  That  is  the  region  of  the  plants  and  the  brutes.  The  moment 
you  touch  a  man  you  touch  intelligence,  and  there  is  no  possible  develop¬ 
ment  of  human  life  or  experience  except  through  the  grasp  which  the  mind 
obtains  upon  the  facts  and  the  relations  in  which  man  finds  himself.  It  is 
impossible  to  teach  Christianity  except  as  truth.  One  of  the  most  danger¬ 
ous  movements  in  some  sections  of  Protestantism  is  that  which  imagines  it  to 
be  possible  to  preach  Christianity  and  to  teach  Christianity  while  avoiding 
any  discussion  or  interpretation  or  application  of  fundamental  Christian 
truths.  This  is  to  degrade  religion  below  the  level  of  intelligence.  In  the 
end  those  churches,  whether  Catholic  or  Anglican  or  Evangelical,  will  control 
the  life  of  the  nation  which  have  backbone  enough  to  believe  definitely  in 
certain  fundamental  Christian  doctrines,  and  determination  and  skill  enough 


30 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCA  TION  ASSOC  I  A  TION 


to  teach  them  persistently  and  convincingly.  Not  even  children  want  that 
kind  of  religion  which  hovers  between  fairy-tales  and  sentimentalism. 

Third,  the  Christian  religion  is  one  of  the  fundamental  forces  in  the  life 
of  the  people.  It  can  only  be  compared  with  the  elemental  forces  of  hunger, 
and  other  forms  of  appetite.  It  therefore  enters  into  and  molds  every  depart¬ 
ment  of  the  social  organism.  In  this  direction  it  has  had  a  great  and  bril¬ 
liant  history,  but  its  greatest  victories  are  yet  to  be  won.  We  need  to  have 
our  children,  our  young  men  and  women,  somehow  educated  to  see  the  pres¬ 
ence  and  power  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ  in  relation  to  all  sides  of  national  life. 
Again,  deliver  us,  good  Lord,  from  the  insanity  of  sentimentalism  !  Give  us 
truth,  the  power  of  ideas,  the  force  inherent  in  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel 
of  Christ !  Is  there  any  machinery  at  present  at  work  which  is  thus  making 
the  Christian  religion  systematically  known  to  the  minds  of  our  generation  ? 

Fourth,  religion  is  truth  issuing  in  life.  Here,  as  in  all  other  departments 
of  education,  and  yet  beyond  all,  the  people  who  teach  and  the  people  who 
learn  must  have  a  feeling  for  the  value  of  those  truths  with  which  they  deal. 
The  greatest  danger  which  the  church  encounters  in  some  European  countries 
lies  in  the  fact  that  Christianity  is  taught  in  the  public  schools  in  an  unreli¬ 
gious  spirit.  The  work  is  carried  out  under  the  law  of  the  land,  and  not 
from  the  heart.  In  America  there  opens  to  us  all  the  prospect  of  seeing  a 
system  of  religious  teaching  which  fulfils  the  conditions  already  named,  but 
which  is  carried  out  in  a  devout  spirit,  and  aims  continually  at  securing  reli¬ 
gious  results.  Only  Christian  people  ought  to  touch  the  problem  of  teaching 
Christian  religion.  But  where  a  system  is  created,  under  which  Christian 
people  are  trained  to  teach  as  scientifically  and  as  thoroughly  in  this  as  in 
any  other  department,  and  to  do  so  in  the  spirit  of  this  department,  the 
most  glorious  results  may  be  looked  for. 

It  has  not  been  our  aim  to  say  how  all  this  is  to  be  done.  We  have 
simply  attempted  to  utter,  or  to  echo,  the  cry,  to  add  one  more  to  the  many 
voices  which  today  demand  that  the  church  of  Christ  shall  seriously  face  and 
undertake  its  inalienable  task  of  educating  the  people  of  America  for  the 
worship  and  service  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Whether  we  consider  the  quality  of  the  audiences,  the  representative 
character  of  the  speakers,  or  the  enthusiastic  interest  manifested  in  the  dis¬ 
cussions,  the  convention  held  last  week  in  the  city  of  Chicago  was  one  of  the 
most  notable  gatherings  held  in  this  country  for  many  years.  It  marks  the 
beginning  of  a  new  epoch  in  religious  education.  It  has  given  force  and 
efficiency  to  a  movement  which  has  been  silently  growing  in  strength  until  it 
demanded  some  form  of  organization  for  its  expression.  Thus  was  inaugu¬ 
rated  one  of  the  most  eventful  movements  of  the  present  day  —  a  move¬ 
ment  which  is  destined  to  grow  in  power  with  years,  to  carry  inspiration  to,  and 
uplift,  all  who  in  any  way  are  laboring  for  the  religious  education  of  the 
young,  and  to  put  into  every  part  of  our  educational  system  a  deeper  reli¬ 
gious  spirit  and  purpose. 


COMMEND  A  TIONS  OF  THE  PRESS 


31 


The  Congregationalist  and  Christian  World  (Congregational),  Boston,  February  21. 

The  assembly  of  educators,  pastors,  and  other  Christian  workers  in  Chi¬ 
cago  last  week  to  consider  improvement  in  moral  and  religious  education 
received  in  advance  unusual  attention  from  the  religious  press.  Its  proceed¬ 
ings,  however,  were  not  extensively  reported  in  the  daily  papers.  No  effort 
to  have  these  proceedings  given  to  the  press  was  made  by  those  responsible 
for  the  convention.  They  were  more  concerned  to  create  an  organization 
and  to  plan  for  permanent  and  far-reaching  work  than  to  display  the  initial 
step  to  the  public.  Yet  probably  no  gathering  of  men  of  equal  influence  has 
ever  before  been  held  in  this  country  for  such  a  purpose. 

The  conviction  has  for  several  years  been  growing  among  all  classes  of 
citizens  that  the  supreme  need  is  more  worthy  and  universal  religious  educa¬ 
tion.  What  that  education  is,  how  it  may  be  effectively  commended,  what 
means  should  be  taken  to  secure  it,  are  questions  which  the  convention  was 
called  to  answer.  The  program  was  prepared  with  great  care  and  labor. 
Many  of  the  foremost  educators  shared  in  making  it. 

A  profound  seriousness  characterized  the  meetings,  a  mental  alertness,  a 
friendliness  which  grew  into  a  strong  confidence  that  a  new  movement  had 
begun  which  would  create  new  ideals  in  education.  Many  religious  denomi¬ 
nations  were  represented.  Yet  there  was  absolutely  no  controversy  or  fric¬ 
tion,  no  harsh  criticism  of  any  body  or  movement  not  represented  there. 
Much  of  the  language  used  was  different  from  that  commonly  heard  in  dis¬ 
tinctively  religious  assemblies.  Yet  the  thoughts  expressed  were  those  which 
sprang  from  a  deep  sense  of  responsibility  to  God,  an  absorbing  purpose  to 
bring  men  into  harmony  with  his  will.  From  the  irenic  opening  address  of 
President  Angell,  to  the  eloquent  plea  of  Dr.  Gunsaulus  in  the  closing  session 
for  reliance  on  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  dominant  note  was  the  same,  and  no 
utterance  was  out  of  harmony  with  it. 

Briefly  summed  up,  the  thought  of  the  convention  was  that  the  end  of 
education  is  not  knowledge,  but  life,  and  the  ideal  life  is  sharing  the  life  of 
God.  The  means  to  secure  the  end,  through  homes,  public  and  private 
schools,  churches,  Sunday  schools,  all  educational  and  social  institutions,  were 
comprehensively  considered  in  orderly  progress,  with  a  unanimity  as  sur¬ 
prising  as  it  was  uplifting.  And  often  the  ideal  in  the  speaker’s  mind,  which 
glowed  in  frank  and  manly  expression,  was  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

The  Interior  (Presbyterian),  Chicago,  February  19. 

The  typical  and  formative  men  of  the  convention  had  not  come  together, 
it  was  manifest,  for  the  mere  laboratory  practice  of  weighing  out  academic 
problems,  but  because  they  believe  tremendously  that  the  church  of  God 
should  take  a  tighter  grip  of  moral  influence  on  the  generations  now  rising 
toward  the  control  of  the  future,  and  are  determined  somehow  to  find  out 
where  is  the  best  place  and  what  the  best  way  to  lay  hold.  There  was  always 
some  applause  for  the  more  radical  utterances  of  speakers,  but  in  contrast  to 


32 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCA  TION  ASSOC/A  TION 


that,  the  greatest  and  heartiest  hand-clapping  constantly  singled  out  those 
expressions  which  were  signally  evangelical  and  conservative.  This  index 
of  the  temper  of  the  convention  was  so  unmistakable  that  it  was  everywhere 
remarked  upon,  and  it  was  agreed  by  all  observers  that  a  disposition  to  “hold 
fast  that  which  is  good  ”  was  really  the  dominant  characteristic  of  the  body. 
And  this  seemed  pleasing  to  all  concerned.  There  were  several  men  heard 
upon  the  program  whose  literary  opinions  of  the  Bible  diverge  widely  from 
the  commonly  accepted  estimates  of  the  inspired  Word.  They  did  not  in  any 
instance  seek  to  conceal  or  equivocate  that  divergence,  but  in  all  cases  they 
did  submit  explicitly  or  implicitly  the  proposition  that  no  differences  of  bib¬ 
lical  interpretation  among  Christians  should  interfere  with  their  co-operating 
together  to  apply  the  moral  worth  of  the  Bible  to  the  needs  of  these  times 
and  to  encourage  everywhere  the  more  serious  and  attentive  teaching  of  the 
Bible  to  the  young.  To  this  idea  more  conservative  men  responded  in  the 
same  brotherly  confidence,  and  out  of  that  understanding  grew  the  unanimous 
action  with  which  the  convention  came  to  a  close. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  Nashville,  February  26. 

The  good  spirit  of  the  convention  was  cause  for  comment  by  more  than 
one  speaker.  There  was  no  discord,  nor  anything  approaching  it.  Not  a 
harsh  word  was  spoken.  On  the  other  hand,  the  meetings  were  intensely 
spiritual  in  tone.  Not  one  but  felt  the  great  importance  of  the  spiritual  train¬ 
ing  of  the  young. 

The  gathering  was  a  notable  one,  and  its  results  will  be  far-reaching.  It 
is  a  prophecy  of  better,  more  natural,  more  scientific  methods  in  Bible  study, 
in  moral  and  religious  instruction.  It  will  give  a  new  impetus  to  family 
religion,  to  a  more  careful  selection  of  teachers  both  for  the  common  and  the 
Sunday  school.  It  will  give  a  helping  hand  to  every  institution  and  enter¬ 
prise  which  has  in  view  the  religious  culture  of  men.  It  betokens  a  new  era. 

The  Midland  (United  Presbyterian),  Chicago,  February  19 

All  schools  of  thought  and  opinion  were  represented,  and  the  utmost 
freedom  of  discussion  prevailed.  The  papers  and  addresses  were  of  an 
exceptionally  high  order  and  received  the  closest  attention.  No  ill-digested 
ideas  were  promulgated,  and  the  mere  theorist  or  doctrinaire  was  not  in 
evidence.  They  were  capable  and  earnest  men  who  had  spent  years  in  the 
study  of  the  subject  upon  which  they  spoke,  and  their  speech  showed  matur¬ 
ity  and  wisdom. 

Four  dominant  or  basic  conceptions  seemed  to  run  through  the  discus¬ 
sions  :  (i)  The  growth  idea  in  religion,  instead  of  the  static.  A  Scripture 

saying  frequently  quoted  was  that  of  the  Master’s,  “  First  the  blade,  then  the 
ear,  after  that  the  full  corn  in  the  ear,”  One  speaker  said  that  it  was  like 
the  dawning  of  a  new  world  to  him  when  he  passed  from  the  mechanical  to 
the  biological  conception  of  the  truth.  (2)  There  is  no  true  basis  for  morals 


COMMENDA  TIONS  OF  THE  PRESS 


33 


outside  of  the  Christian  religion.  It  is  useless  to  try  to  build  up  moral  char¬ 
acter  and  at  the  same  time  eliminate  religious  instruction.  (3)  Education 
without  the  ethical  and  religious  elements  is  weak  and  incomplete,  even 
dangerous.  It  is  as  necessary  to  spiritualize  the  intellect  as  it  is  to  intellect- 
ualize  the  spirit.  (4)  Religious  education  grasps  the  integrity  of  life.  It 
perceives  the  unity  of  our  nature,  that  man  has  not  been  made  like  a  modern 
vessel,  with  its  distinct  and  watertight  compartments,  each  separate  from  the 
others.  But  he  is  an  integer,  and  every  part  of  his  being  bears  an  important 
relationship  to  every  other  part,  therefore  he  should  be  educated  as  a  whole 
and  no  element  of  his  being  neglected. 

Many  of  the  most  prominent  educators,  pastors,  and  laymen  in  the  coun¬ 
try  were  selected  as  trustees  and  directors.  It  would  be  difficult  to  launch  a 
movement  with  a  more  dignified  and  capable  set  of  men  in  control. 

The  Watchman  (Baptist),  Boston,  Feb.  19. 

Throughout  the  convention  as  a  whole,  the  higher  criticism  was  hardly 
mentioned.  Those  who  are  well  known  as  belonging  to  this  school  of  thought 
took  part  in  the  various  meetings,  but  the  purpose  of  the  convention  was  not 
scholastic  or  sectarian  or  partisan,  but  practical  and  religious.  The  question 
constantly  kept  to  the  front  was  :  How  can  moral  and  religious  teaching  be 
reinvigorated  and  made  more  effective  in  the  formation  of  Christian  char¬ 
acter  ?  But  the  interest  of  the  convention  was  in  the  speakers’  thought,  and 
throughout  the  meeting  there  was  the  hush  and  expectancy  upon  the  audience 
that  you  may  have  witnessed  in  some  revival  meeting  when  everyone  hangs 
breathlessly  upon  the  preacher’s  message.  If  anyone  on  that  platform  had 
attempted  to  advocate  a  fad,  he  would  have  been  made  to  feel  that  he  was 
out  of  place.  That  was  not  the  purpose  of  the  convention.  It  was  gathered 
to  promote  the  interests  of  religious  education,  and  those  who  had  something 
to  contribute  to  that  were  welcomed  and  heard  with  grave  interest.  At  the 
same  time  everyone  who  touched  upon  the  matter  admitted  that  the  peda¬ 
gogical  and  historical  point  of  view  must  be  taken  by  the  effective  teacher. 
He  must  adjust  his  material  to  the  stage  of  development  reached  by  his 
pupil,  and  he  must  conceive  of  Christianity  as  a  historical  revelation. 

One  impression  of  the  convention  lingers  after  many  others  have  been 
effaced,  and  that  is  the  profound  agreement  of  Christian  men  in  the  things  of 
the  spirit.  This  convention  represented  the  Christian  scholarship  of  the 
United  States  more  adequately  than  any  other  meeting  ever  held.  The 
leaders  of  thought  were  there  in  great  numbers.  But  in  the  devotional  exer¬ 
cises  and  in  the  speeches  there  was  no  discordant  note.  The  things  as  to 
which  they  agreed  were  so  large  and  compelling  that  the  smaller  things  were 
lost  sight  of.  And,  though  there  were  no  demonstrations  of  emotion,  you 
could  not  attend  the  sessions  without  becoming  aware  of  that  restrained 
intensity  of  feeling  and  depth  of  conviction  that  hushes  and  awes  the  human 
spirit. 


34 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION  ASSOCIATION 


The  Examiner  (Baptist),  New  York  city,  February  19. 

Those  who  were  fortunate'  enough  to  attend  the  great  gathering  in  the 
interest  of  religious  education,  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Council  of 
Seventy  in  Chicago  last  week,  experienced  mental  and  spiritual  sensations  of 
a  pioneer  nature  that  were  richly  instructive  and  intensely  stimulating.  The 
purpose  of  this  convention  was  single  —  to  inaugurate  “an  organized  and 
aggressive  campaign  for  universal  Bible  study,  according  to  sound  educa¬ 
tional  methods  but  its  scope  in  far-gathered  men  and  material,  in  reach 
of  thought  and  suggestion,  and  in  possibilities  of  influence,  was  so  great  that 
the  writer  or  speaker  attempting  a  characterization  trembles  before  the  task. 
One  calls  it  “epoch-making,”  another,  “the  breaking  of  the  dawn;”  still 
another,  “grand  in  its  stupendous  task  ;”  another,  “  profoundly  significant  in 
spiritual  power.” 

The  addresses  were  clarifying  and  unifying.  They  formed  a  precipi¬ 
tate,  and  resulted  in  a  crystallization  of  converging  lines  of  thought  never 
before  brought  together  in  solution.  From  the  opening  address  of  President 
Angell,  the  trend  of  expression  was  constructive  and  positive.  There  was 
little  said  that  could  be  classed  as  either  pessimistic  for  the  present,  negative 
or  destructive.  There  were  no  iconoclastic  utterances,  despite  the  wide¬ 
spread  expectation  of  those  suspicious  of  the  movement.  A  sweet,  sane, 
positive,  uplifting  spirit  sounded  the  trumpet  call  to  attention  before  the  vast 
audience  on  Tuesday  night,  and  the  same  spirit  broke  free  the  banner  of 
action  in  the  formation  of  the  “Religious  Education  Association”  at  the 
crowded  session  late  Thursday  afternoon. 

Of  practical  results,  beyond  the  powerful  influence  of  this  notable  con¬ 
vention  itself,  one  may  not  speak  until  the  element  of  time  has  entered.  Dis¬ 
appointment  will  come  to  many  because  practical  suggestions  for  field  work 
in  matter  and  method  of  Bible  study  are  not  immediately  issued.  Let  all 
such  possess  their  souls  in  patience.  The  dawn  has  broken,  the  day  will  not 
be  long  delayed. 

The  Standard  (Baptist),  Chicago,  February  21. 

A  new  organization  was  established  last  week  in  Chicago  which  enters  a 
totally  new  field.  That  field  is  the  co-ordination  and  stimulation  of  all 
agencies  now  occupied  in  the  religious  and  moral  training  of  the  young. 

That  the  convention  was  in  some  respects  a  pleasant  surprise  to  most 
of  those  who  attended  it  is  suggested  in  the  introductory  paragraphs  of  our 
report.  There  was  no  pugnacity,  no  cynicism,  no  pedantic  theorizing.  The 
speakers  used  the  language  of  the  people,  not  the  jargon  of  the  technical 
treatise.  Many  of  them  laid  upon  the  spiritual  forces  in  religious  education 
an  emphasis  which,  it  is  not  unfair  to  say,  had  not  been  anticipated.  One 
might  reasonably  have  supposed,  considering  the  importance  attributed  to 
correct  methods,  accurate  scholarship,  and  good  equipment  by  many  of  the 
men  who  constructed  the  program,  that  the  speaking  from  the  platform 


GOMMENDA  I'lONS  OF  THE  PRESS 


35 


would  reflect  this  opinion ;  that  trained  minds  would  be  exalted  above  loving 
hearts ;  that  more  attention  would  be  given  to  questions  of  curricula,  refer¬ 
ence-books,  and  pedagogical  maxims  than  to  Christlike  living  and  the  min¬ 
istry  of  the  Spirit.  But  the  tendency  which  actually  developed  was  in  the 
opposite  direction.  Psychologists  like  Professor  Coe  and  Professor  Dewey, 
theologians  like  President  King,  liberal  preachers  like  Dr.  Gunsaulus  and 
Dr.  Horton,  united  in  exalting  the  spiritual  element  in  the  religious  develop¬ 
ment  of  the  child  as  contrasted  with  the  mere  imparting  of  correct  informa¬ 
tion  regarding  religious  things,  important  as  the  latter  is  conceded  to  be. 
Those  stalwart  defenders  of  the  old-time  Sunday  school  who  insist  that  the 
Sunday  school  is  more  than  a  school  of  information — that  it  is  a  school  of 
character  and  religious  culture  —  could  have  found  no  fault  with  the  most 
advanced  advocates  of  reform  on  this  point.  The*  idea  that  the  Bible  is 
adequately  studied  when  it  is  studied  merely  as  literature  and  history  found 
no  support.  The  idea  that  morals  can  be  divorced  from  religion  was  pro¬ 
nounced  unsound.  One  might  say  that  the  keynote  of  the  convention  was : 
“Life  is  one  and  indivisible,  education  the  development  of  the  whole  self, 
and  therefore  religious  culture  is  an  indispensable  part  of  the  complete  life 
and  the  complete  education.” 

The  Baptist  Commonwealth,  Philadelphia,  February  26. 

The  convention  was  in  many  respects  the  most  noteworthy  as  well  as  the 
most  unique  in  the  history  of  religious  effort.  [It]  was  in  absolutely  every 
particular  a  wonderful  success  from  beginning  to  close  ;  a  model  of  perfect 
management ;  a  virile,  enthusiastic  body  of  men  animated  by  a  high  and 
noble  purpose,  to  which  they  devoted  themselves  exclusively  from  the  initial 
service  to  the  closing  benediction.  There  was  no  ranting  nor  claptrap ; 
no  aiming  at  rhetorical  effects ;  no  arraignment  of  past  efforts  or  of  existing 
organizations.  A  seriousness  of  purpose  marked  every  utterance.  The  spirit  of 
the  convention  was  fraternal  and  sympathetic,  the  utterances  were  almost 
without  exception  in  the  sweetest  Christian  spirit  ;  the  final  action  was 
unanimous.  Wisely  directed,  the  Association  will  form  a  common  basis  of 
co-operation  and  co-ordination  for  all  religious  and  educational  organizations, 
and  accomplish  untold  good  for  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord. 

The  Christian  Advocate  (Methodist),  New  York  city,  February  19. 

As  an  outcome  of  the  conference  for  the  promotion  of  religious  education 
held  in  Chicago,  February  10-12,  a  new  national  organization  was  effected, 
to  be  known  as  the  “  Religious  Education  Association.”  The  promoters  of 
the  movement  were  profoundly  convinced  that  a  great  work  —  nothing  less 
than  the  reconstruction  of  religious  education  —  was  waiting  to  be  accom¬ 
plished,  and  could  be  accomplished  only  by  a  union  of  all  those  educational 
forces  which  could  be  combined  to  make  religious  and  moral  instruction  what 
it  should  be  in  the  light  of  increasing  historical  and  scientific  knowledge. 


36  RELIGIOUS  EDUCA  TION  ASSOC/A  TION 

Some  critics  of  the  movement  were  disposed  to  think  that  the  conference  was 
an  attempt  to  force  the  methods  of  the  higher  criticism  upon  all  agencies  for 
biblical  instruction  ;  while  still  others  were  sure  that  the  conference  aimed 
at  nothing  less  than  the  destruction  of  the  International  Sunday  School  Asso¬ 
ciation.  The  outcome  showed  conclusively  that  the  promoters  of  the  move¬ 
ment  had  neither  thought  in  mind,  and  that  their  sole  object  was  to  compel 
attention  to  two  important  truths  :  first,  that  there  was  an  imperative  need 
for  a  widening  of  the  popular  conception  of  religious  instruction  ;  and  an 
equally  imperative  need  for  the  improvement  of  methods  in  our  biblical 
instruction. 

There  is  absolutely  nothing  to  fear  from  the  Association,  and  everything 
to  hope.  Nothing  could  be  of  brighter  promise  for  the  future  of  the  church 
and  of  the  state  than  that  the  most  distinguished  scholars  in  the  country 
should  take  time  to  come  together  in  conference  and  express  themselves  as 
profoundly  zealous  for  the  widest  and  best  knowledge  of  the  Bible,  and  for 
the  furtherance  of  every  agency  which  proposes  the  moral  elevation  of  our 
youth. 

Northwestern  Christian  Advocate  (Methodist),  Chicago,  February  i8. 

The  conference  assembled  under  very  favorable  auspices.  The  popular 
interest  was  great,  and  the  representation  was  gratifyingly  large  and  influ¬ 
ential.  The  program,  in  point  of  speakers,  was  one  of  exceptional  interest 
and  weight,  and  out  of  a  list  of  forty-five  only  two  failed  to  appear.  Three 
hundred  and  eighty-five  persons  registered  as  delegates  from  twenty-three 
states  and  five  foreign  countries.  The  immense  assembly-room  of  the  Audi¬ 
torium  at  the  opening  session  on  Tuesday  evening  was  crowded;  and  through¬ 
out  the  six  sessions  of  the  conference  a  large  number  of  visitors  followed  the 
proceedings  with  the  keenest  interest  and  sympathy. 

Western  Christian  Advocate  (Methodist),  Cincinnati,  O.,  February  i8. 

The  occasion  was  epoch-making  in  its  character.  Absolute  unanimity  of 
conviction  prevailed  ;  and  while  some  crude  things  were  said  as  to  the  present 
status  of  Sunday-school  instruction,  and  while  two  or  three  speakers  showed 
by  their  utterances  that  they  did  not  know  anything  about  that  status,  yet  from 
the  beginning  to  the  end  of  the  convention  the  conviction  grew  that  the 
movement  is  destined  to  become  a  tremendous  element  in  the  moral  and 
religious  life  of  the  American  nation.  It  will  help  to  correlate  the  existing 
educational  forces  and  agencies,  to  quicken  and  guide  all  other  organizations 
which  may  be  in  touch  with  it ;  it  will  serve  as  an  intellectual  and  educational 
clearing-house  for  the  testing  and  exchange  and  certifying  of  educational 
plans  and  ideas.  And  if  anyone  has  feared  that  the  new  movement  meant 
undue  liberalism  or  a  dangerous  form  of  critical  Bible  study,  we  opine  that  a 
a  careful  study  of  the  personnel  of  the  officers  and  of  the  plans  of  the  society 
will  disabuse  the  mind  of  such  an  unjust  suspicion.  We  reflect,  we  believe, 
the  honest  judgment  of  all  who  were  there  when  we  say  that  the  meeting, 


COMMENDA  TIONS  OF  THE  PRESS 


37 


in  its  actual  achievements,  in  its  array  of  speakers,  in  its  presentation  of 
high  and  noble  ideals,  and  in  its  suggestions  of  vast  possibilities  of  useful¬ 
ness,  was  literally  of  an  extraordinary  character. 

Zion’s  Herald  (flethodist),  Boston,  February  i8  and  25. 

The  Convention  for  Religious  Education,  held  in  Chicago,  February 
10-12,  has  more  than  met  the  expectations  of  those  who  called  it,  and  has 
almost,  if  not  altogether,  dispelled  the  fears  and  suspicions  of  those  who  have 
looked  askance  upon  the  project  ever  since  it  began.  The  seriousness  of  the 
gathering,  the  sanity  of  the  discussions,  the  wideness  of  the  scope  of  the  pro¬ 
posed  and  now  completed  organization,  and  the  unity  of  spirit  and  purpose 
revealed,  were  manifest  signs  of  the  occasion.  We  are  convinced  that  vast 
possibilities  of  usefulness  open  up  before  the  new  organization. 

[Your  correspondent]  was  impressed  with  certain  things:  (i)  The  uni¬ 
versal  witness  in  the  speeches  and  addresses  to  the  mastership  and  Savior-  • 
hood  of  Jesus  Christ.  There  was  no  uncertain  and  no  timid  testimony  to  his 
supremacy.  (2)  The  exaltation  of  the  Bible  as  the  Book,  and  large  discus¬ 
sion  as  to  the  best  methods  of  its  study  and  its  use  in  educational  work. 
(3)  The  absolute  necessity  of  religious  education  ;  not  simply  education  in 
morality,  but  religious  education,  in  the  home  and  the  schools.  (4)  The  possi¬ 
bility  of  larger  and  wiser  methods  in  work  in  and  through  the  Sunday  schools. 
(5)  The  spirit  of  sane  conservatism  and  Christian  amity  that  manifested  itself 
in  the  different  addresses.  There  was  no  dynamiting,  no  iconoclasm,  no  mad 
spirit  of  destructive  criticism.  What  was  offered  as  better  wisdom  in  meth¬ 
ods  must  come  by  co-operation,  and  not  by  supplanting 

Many  good  people  entertained  the  fear  that  this  convention  and  the  new 
organization  which  it  was  called  to  organize,  would  form  a  sort  of  rival  organ¬ 
ization  with  the  International  Sunday  School  Association  and  undertake  to 
supply  competing  courses  of  study,  Others  feared  that  this  new  movement  in 
religious  education  would  identify  itself  with  a  certain  school  of  biblical  criti¬ 
cism.  The  platform  of  the  new  organization,  as  defined  by  its  committee  on 
resolutions  and  by  its  constitution,  ought  to  dispel  both  of  these  fears.  It 
disclaims  any  purpose  to  project  or  publish  any  competing  series  of  Sunday- 
school  lessons,  and  declares  its  purpose  to  include  within  its  co-operation  all 
types  of  religious  thought,  all  schools  of  criticism,  and  to  give  its  adhesion  to 
no  sect  or  party  or  institution  or  geographical  section  or  school  of  criticism. 
Its  purpose  is  to  furnish,  by  means  of  co-operation  with  all  existing  agencies, 
stimulus  and  information  toward  higher  ideals  and  methods  for  the  Sunday 
school,  for  the  home,  and  for  the  public  schools.  Much  stress  was  laid  by 
many  of  the  speakers  on  the  necessity  of  more  moral  training  in  the  common 
schools  and  on  the  supreme  value  of  selections  from  the  Bible  in  promoting  this 
moral  and  religious  training. 

The  convention  may  well  mark  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  of  religious 
progress.  We  say  the  beginning,  because  it  is  thoroughly  understood  that 


38 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION  ASSOCIATION 


nothing  of  great  importance  is  to  be  accomplished  suddenly,  but  that  it  will 
take  time  to  bring  about  the  various  reforms  needed  in  our  present  educa¬ 
tional  ideals  and  methods.  The  spirit  of  unity  that  marked  the  utterances 
and  proceedings  of  the  convention  was  very  beautiful  and  very  inspiring  to 
those  of  us  who  are  looking  and  longing  for  the  fulfilment  of  Christ’s  prayer 
for  the  unity  of  his  disciples. 

The  Christian  Evangelist  (Christian),  St.  Louis,  February  19. 

The  convention  in  the  interest  of  religious  and  moral  education,  which 
was  held  in  Chicago  last  week,  was  altogether  unique  in  its  personnel  and  in 
the  purpose  for  which  it  was  convened.  It  is  a  phenomenon  in  the  religious 
world  of  the  deepest  significance.  It  marks  a  higher  stage  of  interest  in  the 
work  of  religious  education  than  has  hitherto  been  reached. 

Here  were  gathered  presidents  of  universities,  colleges,  and  normal 
.schools,  representatives  of  the  common  schools,  professors  in  theological 
seminaries,  editors  of  religious  journals  and  of  Sunday-school  and  other 
religious  publications,  authors  of  books,  pastors,  Sunday-school  superintend¬ 
ents,  representatives  of  the  Young  People’s  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor, 
and  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  almost  every  type  of  religious  worker.  They 
represented  all  the  leading  Protestant  bodies,  many  of  the  leading  institu¬ 
tions  of  the  country,  various  shades  of  religious  thought,  and  different  schools 
of  biblical  criticism. 

In  view  of  this  heterogeneousness  in  the  make-up  of  the  convention,  it 
might  well  have  been  feared  that  unity  of  action  on  any  great  question  relat¬ 
ing  to  the  religious  welfare  of  the  people  would  have  been  impossible.  But 
not  so.  VVe  have  never  attended  a  convention  marked  by  a  greater  unity  of 
purpose  and  of  spirit  than  was  manifested  by  this  body  of  distinguished 
delegates  from  every  section  of  our  great  country.  The  supreme  question 
was :  How  shall  the  young  people  of  this  country  be  taught  and  impressed 
most  effectually  with  that  moral  and  religious  instruction  which  lies  at  the 
foundation  of  character  and  is  essential  to  the  well-being  of  society  and  of 
the  state  ?  In  the  presence  of  this  vital  problem,  all  minor  questions  sank 
into  insignificance.  It  was  the  writer’s  privilege  to  serve  on  one  of  the 
important  committees  and  to  exchange  thought  freely  with  the  men  who 
composed  that  committee,  in  seeking  to  define  the  relation  of  this  new  move¬ 
ment  in  religious  education  to  other  organizations  and  agencies  working  in 
the  same  field,  and  we  were  gratified,  continually,  to  see  the  irenic,  comprehen¬ 
sive,  and  charitable  spirit  which  animated  these  men  of  thought  and  of  action, 
whose  supreme  purpose  seemed  to  be  to  advance  the  kingdom  of  God  among 
men. 

The  Christian  Century  (Christian),  Chicago,  February  19. 

Last  week  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  significant  religious  conventions 
of  modern  times  was  held  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  The  keynote  of  the  con¬ 
vention  was  struck  in  the  very  opening  when  emphasis  was  placed  upon  the 


COM  MEND  A  TIONS  OF  THE  PRESS 


39 


co-operation  between  all  agencies  working  for  the  religious  training  of  our 
young  people  in  the  Sunday  school,  public  schools,  Christian  Endeavor 
Societies  and  the  home.  The  whole  convention  was  characterized  by  a  con¬ 
structive  conservatism.  But  one  note  was  sounded  again  and  again  to  which 
we  wish  to  call  attention,  leaving  our  readers  to  judge  of  the  convention 
from  the  fuller  reports  which  will  follow  next  week.  The  dominant  note  of 
the  convention  laid  the  great  burden  of  responsibility  upon  the  preachers  in 
all  our  evangelical  churches.  Whether  the  speakers  began  with  the  child,  or 
the  Sunday  school,  or  the  Christian  Endeavor  Society,  or  the  public  school, 
they  invariably  placed  the  reponsibility  for  more  systematic  Bible  instruction 
upon  the  preacher. 

The  Christian  Register  (Unitarian),  Boston,  February  19. 

Unless  all  signs  are  erroneous,  the  week  ending  February  14,  1903,  will 
be  notable  in  the  religious  history  of  America.  I  am  well  aware  how  unsafe 
it  is  to  play  the  role  of  a  prophet,  but  there  seem  to  be  sound  reasons  for 

doing  so  at  this  time . The  general  aim  was  to  create  a  religious 

revival  —  by  thoughtful,  educational  methods  —  conserving  the  old,  assimi¬ 
lating  the  new,  reconstructing  the  church. 

The  men  who  animate  and  guide  the  movement  have  shown  large 
executive  ability.  All  the  details  of  this  convention  were  forecast  with 
minute  scrutiny.  Details  were  not  ignored.  Consequently,  we  had  admir¬ 
able  results  in  Chicago.  I  believe  that  this  machinery  will  move  rapidly 
and  successfully  because  of  the  skill  and  ability  of  those  who  have  charge  of 
the  undertaking.  It  will  be  seen  from  what  little  I  have  already  cited  from 
the  constitution  that  there  is  no  doctrinal  or  ecclesiastical  qualification. 
Every  article  and  section  is  put  on  a  purely  educational  basis.  If  I  were  to 
sum  up  the  prominent  characteristics  of  the  convention,  I  should  say  it  was 
marked  by  a  spirit  of  great  confidence  and  buoyancy,  by  a  cordial  attitude 
toward  new  truth,  by  a  wise  consideration  for  the  past,  by  an  evident  desire 
to  conduct  everything  in  a  catholic,  inclusive  manner,  uniting  on  central 
things  and  dealing  fraternally  in  matters  of  difference.  There  was  no  attack 
on  the  International  Lessons,  no  effort  made  to  draw  sectarian  lines,  no 
revival  of  theological  animosities.  All  seemed  to  feel  that  they  were  called 
to  a  great  work  and  intended  to  respond  in  a  large  way. 

Episcopal  Recorder  (Episcopal),  Philadelphia,  February  26. 

We  feared  that  the  convention  might  make  shipwreck  in  the  discussions 
on  the  ever-changing  higher  criticism,  and  are  glad  to  know  that  our  fears 
are  unfounded.  While  plain  and  fearless  reference  was  made  to  the  subject, 
the  general  opinion  obtained  that  in  reality  it  was  “irrelevant”  to  the  matter 
in  hand,  which  was  one  of  spiritual  instruction  There  seemed  to  be  a  tense 
realization  of  the  fact  that,  out  of  twenty-three  millions  of  young  people  in 
our  country  between  the  ages  of  five  and  fourteen  years,  there  were  over 


40 


RELIGIOUS  EDUCA  TION  ASSOCIA  TION 


thirtee-n  millions  who  were  without  any  religious  instruction  whatever.  This 
problem  is  in  reality  the  most  vital  one,  and  toward  its  solution  the  conven¬ 
tion  has  contributed  a  united  recognition  of  the  fact  and  a  united  determina¬ 
tion  to  try  to  deal  with  it. 

Boston  Evening  Transcript,  Boston,  February  17. 

The  “Religious  Education  Association”  is  the  sensible  and  significant 
name  of  the  new  organization  into  which  the  deliberation  and  the  enthusiasqo 
of  the  great  meeting  at  Chicago  last  week  crystallized.  That  convention  of 
several  hundred  prominent  educators  and  Christian  leaders  from  all  parts  of 
the  country  not  only  surpassed  the  expectations  of  its  projectors,  but  put  to 
naught  the  gloomy  forebodings  of  those  who  for  one  reason  or  another  had 
discounted  it  in  advance.  All  these  apprehensions,  cherished  up  to  the  very 
eve  of  the  convention’s  assembling,  were  dissipated  long  before  the  third 
day’s  sessions  were  reached.  The  note  of  theological  controversy  was  hardly 
struck  at  all.  To  be  sure,  the  new  viewpoint  in  religion  was  assumed  rather 
asserted,  and  formed  the  background  of  the  thought  of  the  entire  conven¬ 
tion.  And  the  fact  that  the  score  or  more  of  college  presidents,  professional 
educators,  and  pastors  who  had  parts  on  the  program  were  practically  a  unit 
in  their  acceptance  of  the  new  pedagogy,  the  new  psychology,  and  the  new 
views  of  the  Bible,  marks  this  movement  at  its  very  inception  as  distinctively 
modern  and  progressive.  But  in  the  convention  itself  the  effort  was  not  to 
deride  or  to  denounce  opinions  which  have  had  and  still  have  wide  accept¬ 
ance  in  the  churches,  but,  on  the  basis  of  the  newer  thought,  to  plan  con¬ 
structively  for  the  more  effective  religious  education  of  the  rising  generation. 

As  for  the  expected  antagonism  to  the  International  system  of  Sunday- 
school  lessons,  it  did  not  develop.  On  the  contrary,  that  system  was  com¬ 
mended  by  some  of  the  most  prominent  participants  in  the  convention  as 
having  served  valuable  ends  in  the  past  and  having  itself  created  a  demand 
for  something  better  and  more  elastic.  The  simple  truth  is  that  this  move¬ 
ment  is  a  straightforward,  broad-gauged,  level-headed  religious  educational 
propaganda,  indorsed  and  directed  by  the  ablest  educators  of  the  country  of 
all  shades  of  theological  thought.  Naturally,  the  Sunday  schools  will  be  one 
of  the  first  institutions  to  feel  its  influence.  The  Association  does  not  intend 
itself  to  publish  any  courses  or  systems  of  helps  to  Bible  study,  though  it  will 
foster  individual  initiative  in  this  direction.  It  will  not  try  to  duplicate  the 
state  and  county  organizations  of  the  International  Sunday-School  Associa¬ 
tion,  or  in  any  way  to  invade  its  legitimate  field.  The  Religious  Education 
Association  will  simply  endeavor  to  help,  as  it  may  be  able  to  do,  those 
schools  which  turn  to  it  for  aid.  But  the  scope  of  its  activity  is  far  broader 
than  the  field  of  Sunday-school  work  alone.  It  will  aim  to  restore  religion 
—  not  the  technicalities  of  theology,  not  divisive  denominational  tenets,  but 
wholesome,  rational  religion,  to  its  normal  place  in  the  symmetrical  training 
of  boys  and  girls,  young  men  and  young  women,  for  their  life  and  work  in  the 
modern  world.  Success  then  to  the  R.  E.  A.! 


